Executive directors

Andy Hornby

Born in 1967, after graduating from Oxford Andy joined the Boston Consulting Group where he spent three years working on a range of projects, principally in the media and retail sectors. He then went to Harvard, where he obtained his MBA. On his return, Andy joined Blue Circle, where he held a number of senior line management roles. He moved to ASDA in 1996 and held numerous roles including Director of Corporate Development, Retail Managing Director and finally Managing Director of George, ASDA's clothing business.

Andy joined Halifax on 1 November 1999 as Chief Executive, Halifax Retail and was appointed to the Board on 18 November 1999. Following the merger of Bank of Scotland and Halifax in September 2001, Andy became Chief Executive of the Retail Division of HBOS plc.   In July 2005 Andy was appointed Chief Operating Officer and in July 2006 Andy became Chief Executive of HBOS plc.  He is also a Non-executive Director of Home Retail Group.

Peter Cummings

Born in 1955, Peter joined Bank of Scotland in 1973 and following a period in a number of branches in West of Scotland was appointed p.a. to the Chief Manager, Glasgow Chief Office.

From 1985 to 1990 Peter was appointed Advances Manager Corporate Division involved in Management Buyouts, Large Corporate transactions including property transactions.  During this period Peter was seconded full time to undertake an MBA at Strathclyde University.

On Peter’s return to the Bank he was appointed Head of Corporate Recovery, a position he held until 1993 when he was appointed Regional Manager for the development of business in North of England.

During 1995 Peter was appointed Director of Corporate Banking leading a Structured Finance team in Glasgow.  The team’s main responsibility was to write MBO business.  Peter held this position widening the remit to accommodate major Corporate Relationships until his present role as Managing Director of Corporate, which incorporates Integrated, Structured, Acquisition Finance, Joint Ventures and Equity.

Peter was appointed Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate in July 2005 and became Chief Executive of Corporate on 1st January 2006.  Peter is also a Director of Maggie's Centres.

Jo Dawson

Born in 1962, Jo has a degree from Cambridge University and an MBA from Warwick Business School.

She held a number of senior management positions at Natwest in both retail and corporate as well as central strategy and finance roles.

She then moved to Green Flag as Business Development Director, joining Halifax in 2000, initially as General Manager Retail Sales with responsibility for developing sales through the branch network.  She became Head of Advisory Sales with responsibility for bancassurance, wealth management, business banking and retail businesses in Spain and Holland.

In January 2005 she was appointed Group Risk Director and became a member of the HBOS Group Executive Committee.  In March 2006, Jo was appointed Chief Executive, Insurance and Investment, and on 10 August 2007, Jo was also given responsibility for Retail Distribution.  She is also a Director of esure and St James' Place.

Colin Matthew

Born in 1950, Colin joined Bank of Scotland in 1966 and in 1991 was appointed Divisional General Manager, UK Banking-England. In 1994 he was appointed to the Bank of Scotland's Management Board as General Manager with responsibility for Bank of Scotland Treasury Services plc. In April 1999, Colin became a member of Bank of Scotland's Group Management Board and was appointed Divisional Chief Executive of Business Banking before being appointed a Director of Bank of Scotland in May 2000.

Following the merger of Bank of Scotland and Halifax in September 2001, Colin became Chief Executive of the Business Banking Division of HBOS plc.  From January 2004, Colin became Chief Executive Officer Strategy & International, and since 1 January 2006, has been Treasurer of Bank of Scotland.  Colin is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland.

Dan Watkins

Born in 1962, Dan graduated from Oxford in 1985 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

Dan worked in the City for Morgan Grenfell before joining Birmingham Midshires in 1993 where he worked in risk management.  He became Treasurer in 1996.

After a number of senior roles within Birmingham Midshires, he became Managing Director in September 2001 and joined the Retail board.  He led Birmingham Midshires through a period of significant change and growth, as it became part of the HBOS group.

In January 2005 Dan became Head of Retail Risk.  He was appointed to the position of Group Risk Director, becoming a member of the Executive Committee, in March 2006. Dan was appointed to the board of HBOS plc in 5 September 2007, taking the post of Chief Executive, Retail Products. In this role Dan has responsibility for the design and manufacture of Retail products in the UK, as well as marketing, e-commerce and operations for the Retail division.

Philip Gore-Randall

Born in 1952, Philip Gore-Randall joined the Board of HBOS plc on 15th September 2007 as Chief Operating Officer. Philip is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience, in the UK and overseas, at a senior level in large financial organisations, joining HBOS from Aon UK Limited, where he held the role of Chief Operating Officer following a period as Chairman and Chief Executive of Aon Risk Services. 

Prior to this, Philip was a Managing Partner at Andersen for a number of years; elected UK Managing Partner in 1997 and then Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer for the worldwide practice in 2001. Philip has been a member of the Advisory Council of The Princes Trust and a Council Member of the CBI. He has an MA in Geography from University College, Oxford.

Mike Ellis

Born in 1951, Mike Ellis joined Halifax Building Society in June 1987 as Treasurer.   He became Group Treasurer in June 1989;  General Manager, Treasury and European Operations in August 1992;  and Managing Director, Treasury and Overseas Operations in August 1995.      In December 1996 he became Banking and Savings Director with responsibility for Liquid Savings, Retail Banking, Consumer Credit and Distribution.    In January 1999 he became Retail Financial Services Director with responsibility for Mortgages and Savings, Banking and Consumer Credit, General Insurance, Long Term Savings and Marketing, with additional Board responsibility for Distribution.   With effect from 1st October 1999 Mike was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Halifax Group plc.

In September 2001, following the merger of Bank of Scotland and Halifax, Mike was appointed Group Finance Director of HBOS plc.     He handed over responsibility for Finance in October 2004 and for Risk on 31st December 2004 on leaving HBOS.      In September 2007 Mike rejoined HBOS as Group Finance Director (Designate) and will assume the role of Group Finance Director 1st January 2008.

Mike holds a B.A. Degree (Open University) is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and a fellow member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.