The Alliance for Finance is managed by an Executive of representatives from our member organisations. The current Executive is:
Nick Caton, Chairperson Nick is currently a Regional Organiser for Community the Union. Nick has been a Full Time officer with the union since 2006, previously being part of the Union of Finance Staff before it joined with Community in 2016. Nick has been mainly involved in supporting members from Zurich Insurance and Capita Life and Pensions for a number of years and has represented Community as a member of the Industri-All Global Union. Nick has been on the Executive Committee of the Alliance for Finance since 2014 and was elected as Chair in 2017. Ania Lomax, Deputy Chairperson Ania is currently Assistant General Secretary of Aegis having responsibility for the membership working in the Yorkshire Building Society. Ania has been a full-time officer in the Union since 2011 first of all in YISA which was the Yorkshire Building Society Staff Association before transferring the staff association into Aegis the Union 9 years ago. Ania has been involved with the Alliance for Finance since 2012 and joined the Executive Committee is 2014, taking up the role of Deputy Chairperson at the end of 2023. She is committed to promote the Alliance for Finance and encourages all the Building Society Affiliates to contribute towards and attend meetings she holds with the BSA (Building Society Association). Fiona Steele, Treasurer Fiona is Deputy General Secretary of Aegis the Union. Fiona has been a full-time officer with Aegis since 2005. During that time she has been at the forefront of Aegis’ evolution, working with the General Secretary, she designed and delivered a five year strategy to support Aegis’ transition from a single employer staff association to an independent, TUC and STUC affiliated union with recognition rights in Aegon UK, Yorkshire Building Society Group, Skipton Building Society and Computershare. Fiona has been involved with the Alliance for Finance since 2006 and joined the Executive Committee in 2011 and she is now the Treasurer. She is committed to building the Alliance’s strength and influence within the finance sector so it can continue to promote and protect the interests of the people who work in it. She is also an active member, and a past chair of the STUC Women’s Committee. Gerry Moloney, Deputy Treasurer Gerry has worked for Advance for over ten years and is proud to be Assistant General Secretary. In his previous role as head of communication, he was responsible for much of the written communication Advance produces. He combines this with broader duties and attends partnership meetings with Santander to discuss the bank’s strategic changes and concerns raised by Advance. Gerry recently also supported the North Branch Division from the union leadership perspective. Gerry has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2016. Chris Rimell, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion Chris has been involved with the Accord union since 2005, starting out as a trade union rep in his workplace. He later joined the Accord executive for a period of 4 years, before joining Accord full-time as an Officer. Chris’s role now involves managing the digital capabilities of the union. Chris also has advisory capacity as the Equality Diversity & Inclusion Officer and the union’s Data Protection Officer. Chris joined the Alliance for Finance Executive Committee in 2023. Kevin Watts, Secretary Kevin is the Secretary of the Alliance for Finance. The role is to support the other Executive Members to achieve AFF’s objectives. He is also an active Executive Committee member too. Kevin is retired from full time work and runs a small HR consultancy. He worked over 39 years, mostly in Personnel and HR and directly with trade unions. His last 20 years was with Zurich Financial Services as Industrial Relations Manager. If you have any questions about the Alliance, how it operates, its survey on current people and work topics, Kevin will often be your point of contact. Kevin was elected as the Alliance for Finance Secretary and an executive member in 2021. Chris Roberts Chris is a member of the Santander National Committee that has responsibility for collective bargaining on behalf of it's CWU membership within Santander UK and Santander Technology, and has been involved with Trade Union work since 2004, initially with the Alliance and Leicester Group Union of Staff (ALGUS) upon transfer of engagement to CWU early 2008. Chris joined the Alliance for Finance Executive Committee in 2022 Stephanie Jones Steph is currently one of the Deputy Heads of the PCRF (Phoenix Colleague Representation Forum), the employee representative body for colleagues of The Phoenix Group. Launched in March 2021, the Central team, alongside lead and local reps across the business, represent all permanent and fixed term colleagues throughout their working lives at Phoenix. Steph joined the PCRF in March 2021 after previously working in the Internal Communications and Engagement team for Phoenix, with previous global PR and communications experience in the automotive and utilities sector. Steph has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2022. Beverley Cubbon Bev is currently an Individual Cases Officer with NGSU and has been for the last 2 years, supporting members in hearings and with any issues and concerns they might have. Prior to that she worked for Nationwide (NBS) for 34 years, starting in the Branch Network before moving to Head Office. During her 34 years with NBS, she was a Union rep for around 30 years, 12 years as a Disciplinary Officer (supporting member in hearings), 12 years as National Regional Officer and then President of NGSU for 2 years (2019-2021) before leaving and moving across to work for NGSU on a permanent basis. Bev joined the Executive Committee in 2023. Caroline Taylor (Honorary) Caroline is the National officer for the Finance and Professional sector of Community union. She has worked for the union since 2006 and am has been an honorary member of the Alliance Executive Committee since 2021. Caroline works closely with organisations such as Zurich insurance, Capita Life and Pensions, and the West Brom Building Society as well as managing the South West region for Community Union. |
Honorary Vice President
Frank Needham
Frank has previously been Chair of the Alliance for Finance between 2007 and 2012 and has over 30 years of experience of working for trade unions in the finance industry. For 13 years from 1984 to 1997 he was General Secretary of the in house union at National & Provincial Building Society (NAPSA). Frank was Chair of the Federation of Building Society Staff Assocations from 1984 to 1987 and subsequently Vice Chair of the Financial Services Staff Federation from 1993 to 1996. Frank has recently retired as a partner in Network Partnership which he formed in 1987 with his colleague Mike providing consultancy and training services to a number staff unions - many of them in the building societies and mutuals sector. Frank also worked for the finance section of the union Unite and its predecessors, as National Secretary responsible for the union's building society members, members in Abbey plc and from 2006 for Northern Rock until his retirement from Unite in 2008. Frank has also been Chair of the Mutual Interest Partnership (formerly Mutual Interest Campaign) from July 2000. Franks principal areas of interest include training on employment law and practice, communication and negotiation skills, team building and management development. He also has experience in political lobbying and organising campaigns, trade union organisation and recruitment, and the development of reward systems. |