Leeds, England, United Kingdom, April 2026 — Leeds Building Society has announced the appointment of Annette Barnes as its Chief Executive Officer, transitioning from her role as Interim CEO following a comprehensive leadership search. This appointment marks a pivotal moment for the Society as it accelerates its focus on long-term growth, digital transformation, and expanding access to home ownership across the United Kingdom.
Annette steps into the role with over three decades of leadership experience in financial services, bringing a strong blend of operational excellence, governance expertise, and customer-centric strategy. Her elevation reflects the Society’s confidence in her leadership as it navigates an evolving financial landscape while staying true to its core purpose.
Before being formally appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Annette served as Interim CEO at Leeds Building Society, where she led the organization through a critical transition phase while continuing her role as a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director on the Board .
Prior to this, she held several prominent non-executive roles, including Non-Executive Director at GlobalData Plc, where she also served as Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair, as well as board roles at Quilter and Tradu, strengthening her governance and strategic oversight experience.
Annette’s executive leadership journey includes her role as CEO of Lloyds Bank Private Banking and Managing Director – Wealth & Mass Affluent at Lloyds Banking Group, where she was responsible for driving growth, customer strategy, and operational performance across key business segments.
Earlier, she served as Managing Director at Bank of Scotland, leading community banking operations, and held multiple senior leadership roles within Lloyds Banking Group, including Managing Director – Customer Operations and Group Change Programme Director, where she led large-scale transformation and operational initiatives impacting thousands of employees and multiple business lines.
She also spent over 16 years at Bank of America, where she held senior roles across operations, transformation, credit risk, fraud, and customer service, managing large international teams and complex business portfolios across multiple geographies.
With deep expertise across banking operations, transformation, governance, and customer experience, Annette brings a proven track record of leading organizations through change while delivering sustainable growth and value.
Leeds Building Society has been helping people save and own their homes since 1875, with a purpose centered on making home ownership accessible to more people across generations.
The Society continues to innovate and modernize its services to better serve its members, combining a strong legacy of trust with a forward-looking approach to digital transformation and customer experience. With a dedicated team and a member-first philosophy, Leeds Building Society is committed to supporting financial well-being and housing accessibility across the UK.
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