Biography – John Spence CBE DL

BA  FCIBS  FIFS  FRSA

(Actually Canon Dr. John Spence CBE DL, but who wants all that?!)

Personal:

Born Edinburgh 30th Jan 1951.
Married to Yvonne in 1974; With son Euan, daughters Lindsay and Catherine and now a proud grandfather.

Education:

George Watson’s College, Edinburgh
Trinity College, Dublin
Harvard Business School

Honours:

1999 – MBE for service to community
2006 – OBE for services to charity & Business in the Community
2013 – CBE for services to business
2005 – Order of St. Cedd, Chelmsford Cathedral
2006 – Lay Canon, Chelmsford Cathedral
2006 – Round Table, GB & Ireland, Founders Award for lifetime contribution

2005 – HRH The Prince of Wales's Business Ambassadors Award
2008 – Deputy Lord Lieutenant, County of Essex
2009 – Honorary Doctorate – Anglia Ruskin University

Things I do now:

Church:

Archbishop's Council Finance Committee (Chairman: this involves ex officio membership of General Synod and numerous other committees)

Church of England Strategic Investment Board  (Chairman) 

Chelmsford Cathedral Council

Political:

County Councillor for Chelmer Division of Essex County Council since May 2013. My Cabinet portfolio is Health & Adult Social Care. Having previously been responsible for Finance, Housing & Planning, I chair North Essex Garden Communities Ltd.

Voluntary Sector:

Anglia Ruskin University Foundation Trustee

The J's Hospice (Patron)            

Directorships:

Spicerhaart Group Ltd (Non-Executive Chair)
Callcredit INformation Group Ltd (Non-Executive Chair)

As well as companies related to Church/voluntary activities)

Things I have done:

Career:

Joined Lloyds Bank in 1973
1994 – 1996 – Head of Business Banking, Lloyds Bank
1996 – 1998 – Managing Director, Business Banking, LloydsTSB
1998 – 2000 – Chief Executive, LloydsTSB (Scotland)
2000 – 2001 – Director of Branch Networks
2001 – 2003 – Director of Retail Distribution
2003 – 2005 – Director of Policy Co-Ordination and Risk

British Bankers Association – Chaired Business Banking Committee 1996-98 and Retail Committee 2003-5

Church

Governor of Church Commissioners 2005-13

Chairman Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance 2009-13

Voluntary

Chairmanships of Action for Blind People, Vitalise, Blind In Business and Essex Community Foundation

Trusteeships of RNIB and St. Pauls Cathedral Foundation

Presidency of Royal Zoological Sopciety of Scotland and Enable

Finance chair of Business in the Community

Directorships

Non Executive Directorships of HM Revenue & Customs (inc. Chair Audit Committee), Skipton Group Holdings, Edrington Ltd, Capital for Enterprise Ltd, Money Advice Service, .

Chairman of S.E. Local Enterprise Partnership and Harlow Renaissance Ltd

Interests:

Cooking and eating, theatre, listening to sport, swimming, gardening and motorcycling (yes really – other drivers beware).