Mike Jones (Economics,1979, Lonsdale) tells how his time at Lancaster University influenced his career in banking, finance and risk management.

“As was fairly typical for the time, I was the first member of my family to win a place at university and felt an element of ‘imposter syndrome’ when I arrived at Lancaster. Many of my fellow students has achieved better A level grades or attended well known schools which contributed to my reticence. I was also slightly in awe of some of the larger-than-life characters on my floor in Lonsdale Annexe, none more so than Ali Driver [whose bio also appears in the Alumni News online features]! He can take great credit for boosting my confidence without realising it, and we became close, lifelong friends, sharing accommodation in the legendary York Hotel in Morecambe during his final and my second year.

I eventually realised my fears were largely unfounded and I owe a huge debt to my tutors in the Economics Department for helping me develop a depth of knowledge as well as the rigour and attention to detail which would serve me well in future. I would single out Dr Jim Taylor for the way in which he encouraged me while setting a high bar in terms of standards and expectations. If you are reading this Jim, my belated thanks!

I joined Midland Bank, soon to become HSBC, as a graduate trainee and spent 18 enjoyable years in retail and corporate banking, often at the sharp end, managing customer portfolios through some very challenging economic times.

I eventually moved on, joining Principality Building Society- a smaller organisation, but one where I felt I could make a greater difference. I undertook a range of managerial roles and was appointed a main Board Director and Chief Risk Officer in 2013. This gave me direct exposure to the supervision teams at Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority and the opportunity to put into practice many of the theoretical modelling techniques I had learned all those years ago.

Just prior to the Covid 19 pandemic, I took over as the Principality’s Interim CEO for the best part of a year- a difficult and uncertain time for all of us- and I’d like to think that the resilience and self-belief I had started to develop as an undergraduate helped me to navigate the firm through those unprecedented times.

I stepped down from Principality last year and now have non-executive roles in three very different organisations – a Housing Association which looks after over 22,000 homes in South Wales, as Chair of Risk at Monmouthshire Building Society, and most recently in a similar role at the UK subsidiary of a global Indian Bank, ICICI.

My education at Lancaster has had a major and enduring impact on me both in my professional career but also in developing life skills. I also got the chance to see some monumental musical performances in the Great Hall from Thin Lizzy, Rory Gallagher, Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC and Blondie to name just five!

Attending Lancaster was one of the best decisions I ever made, it’s set me up for life in so many ways."