Progressive Building Society has announced a series of senior leadership appointments as it strengthens its executive team to support future growth and enhance services for members across Northern Ireland.
The Belfast-headquartered mutual, which operates 11 branches across the region, has appointed Jane Millar as chief operating officer, Monique Silva as chief information and technology officer, Kevin Flannery as head of sales, Kathryn Eagleson as head of customer experience, Kelly Coltham as head of human resources, while Martin Pitt has been named chair.
The appointments bring together decades of experience spanning financial services, technology, customer experience, governance and people management as the Society continues to invest in its long-term strategy.
Jane Millar takes on the role of COO after 35 years in the sector. She brings extensive expertise across operations, lending, savings, governance and regulatory oversight, with responsibility for delivering strategy, strengthening controls and improving outcomes for members.
Monique Silva has been appointed chief information and technology officer. Since joining Progressive in 2019, she has led a significant programme of technology modernisation, including cloud infrastructure, digital channels, governance and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Her work has focused on improving operational resilience, cyber security and member services.
Kevin Flannery has been promoted to head of sales after 22 years with the Society. He will lead Progressive's sales strategy across Northern Ireland, supporting members, brokers and colleagues while helping to drive continued growth.
Kathryn Eagleson has been appointed head of customer experience. A chartered accountant with almost 20 years' experience in financial services, she will oversee initiatives aimed at enhancing customer service while reinforcing Progressive's mutual values.
Meanwhile, Kelly Coltham has joined as head of HR. With 15 years' experience across a range of sectors, she will lead the Society's people strategy, focusing on talent development, workforce planning and supporting business growth.
The Society has also confirmed the appointment of Martin Pitt as chair. A chartered accountant, Pitt joined the Board in January 2020 and became vice chair in 2022. He brings extensive experience in finance, audit, governance and risk, having previously served as a partner in a leading accountancy practice before retiring. During his time on the Board, he has chaired the Audit Committee and served on both the Risk and Nominations Committees.
Founded in Belfast in 1914, Progressive Building Society is one of Northern Ireland's longest-established financial institutions. The mutual operates 11 branches across the region and had total assets of more than £1.9 billion at the end of 2022.
1. Progressive Building Society
Monique Silva as chief information and technology officer Photo: u
4. Progressive Building Society
Kathryn Eagleson as head of customer experience Photo: DARREN KIDD