Ecology Appoints Gareth Griffiths As CEO

We’re announcing that we have appointed Gareth Griffiths as Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approval.

The selection process has been led by Louise Pryor, the Society’s Chair designate, and follows the announcement last year that Paul Ellis is stepping down after more than 40 years of involvement with Ecology, 27 of them as CEO.

Gareth will take up his position in June 2022. He joins Ecology at a time of growth: the Society’s 2021 results reported a 14% increase in total assets to more than £250m, with a record 77% increase in new mortgage lending.

We have remained committed to our ecological mission since we were established in 1981 and have continued to be a leader in green mortgages throughout that time. We’re currently experiencing even more demand for our sustainable lending, which is entirely funded by members’ savings and helping to tackle the climate crisis.

Gareth is currently Head of Retail Banking at Triodos Bank, which like Ecology is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV). Prior to that he held leadership roles at RAC and HSBC after beginning his banking career with former mutual, Bradford and Bingley.

Louise welcomed Gareth’s appointment,

“The Board is delighted that Gareth has agreed to join Ecology as Chief Executive. Following a robust and rigorous selection process, he emerged as the outstanding candidate to lead the Society, demonstrating a deep commitment to ethical finance, ensuring money has a positive impact on people and planet, combined with significant banking experience.

“Gareth joins a Society that is in excellent health, a testament to the outstanding contribution that Paul and the team have made over many years.  As we implement our 2030 Strategy, co-developed with members, we are showing how a purpose-led organisation can make a difference.

“In my new role as Chair of Ecology I look forward to working with Gareth to build on the Society’s excellent performance to accelerate our mission to build a greener society while enhancing the services we provide to our members.”

Following his appointment Gareth said,

“It is an honour to be joining Ecology Building Society, which was founded to make better use of natural resources and reverse environmental degradation. Forty years on, Ecology’s mission has never been more relevant, with the need to address the climate crisis, deepening financial inequalities and transforming the UK’s housing stock at the heart of the sustainability challenge.

“The fight to mitigate these issues will define the quality of life that we can all hope for in the years to come, and my aim is that Ecology plays an even greater part in creating a better future over this critical decade.

“I will be agitating for change in a broken financial system, which has invested over £150bn into fossil fuels since the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. At the same time my focus will be dedicated to supporting Ecology’s excellent team to continue delivering award-wining service to our growing membership.”

We’re looking forward to welcoming Gareth to the Society.