Santander UK today announces that William Vereker, Board Chair, has indicated his intention to step down from the Santander UK plc and Santander UK Group Holdings plc Boards (the "Boards") during the course of 2025, once a thorough appointment process and orderly handover have been completed.
William joined the Boards in October 2020 and was appointed as Chair with effect from 1 November 2020. Since then, he has played a critical role in overseeing an extensive period of business transformation, as well as leading a significant evolution of the Board, including the recruitment of a new CEO and refreshing all the Independent Non-executive Directors.
Ana Botin, Banco Santander S.A. Group Executive Chair said: "The Group Board is very grateful for the invaluable role William has played in steering the UK bank through some of the most challenging circumstances in recent times. Under his stewardship, Santander UK has navigated Covid and a difficult economic environment to provide the support its customers, clients and people needed. He has overseen the essential transformation of the business that will make the UK a core part of the Group's success in the years to come. We wish him well for the future."
William Vereker said: "Santander UK has undergone a significant transformation since 2020 and it has been an honour to Chair its Boards during that time. I am immensely proud of the progress the business has made and of the team who have delivered it, as well as how we have delivered for customers. I am excited about how the business will continue to develop under the leadership of my successor. With the transformation well under way and having a strong CEO and a refreshed Board in place, now is the right time for me to step down"
The Santander UK Board Nomination and Governance Committee is undertaking a thorough Chair appointment process and the new Chair will be announced in due course.
