The Diocese of Oxford is pleased to announce the appointment of Sir Hector Sants as the new Chair of the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance (ODBF), succeeding the Revd Canon John Tattersall LVO.
The Chair ensures the good governance of substantial monies and investments in the diocese. Hector will work with the ODBF and Diocesan Senior Management overseeing the financial strategy, annual budgets, Parish Share, and assets and investments of one of the largest dioceses in the Church of England.
Hector joins the OBDF with over 30 years of experience in financial services and regulation including serving as the CEO of the Financial Services Authority and the European CEO of Credit Suisse. He also brings a wealth of experience in non-executive roles in the public and charitable sector after retiring from full-time work in 2013. This includes Chairing the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings.
Hector is taking on this new position alongside his other roles as Chair of the Money and Pensions Service, Vice-Chair of the Turville Parish Council, Chair of the Audit Committee and Trustee at St Mellitus Theological College, and Trustee of the Just Finance Foundation.
Revd John Tattersall will remain as Chair until the end of December and Hector will begin this role on 1st January 2022.
Speaking on his appointment, Sir Hector Sants said:
“It is a great privilege to be appointed as Chair of the ODBF. Thank you to the outgoing Chair, Revd Canon John Tattersall, for his leadership and hard work in this role over the past number of years.
“I am looking forward to getting out into the parishes across the diocese to meet with and listen to people and to understand what the challenges are in their contexts. Having been a resident in the diocese for over 35 years, I am delighted to be joining the Board in this role to help the diocese to continue to flourish and grow as a Christian community which enhances the life of all those within it.
The outgoing Chair, the Revd Canon John Tattersall LVO, shared his thanks:
“It has been a great pleasure to serve as Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance over the past eight years and to¯support diocesan mission and ministry through so many challenges and opportunities.
“I have really appreciated the support of members of Diocesan Synod, diocesan committees and all of the deanery and parish treasurers and other officers in my role, as well as that of diocesan senior management. ¯I have enjoyed working with you all. I am delighted that Sir Hector is to be my successor, and I wish him well in this fascinating and challenging role.”
The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, shared:
“I am looking forward to working with Hector to aid the diocese in our common vision of becoming a more Christ-like Church and navigating future challenges together. The knowledge and experience in financial services that Hector brings to this role will be invaluable, and I am confident that he will be a great asset to the diocese.
“I am particularly grateful for all the work and time that the outgoing Chair, John Tattersall, has committed to the diocese since 2013. His leadership and influence have been exceptional. He goes with my prayers and best wishes.”
Commenting on the announcement, Canon Mark Humphriss, Diocesan Secretary, said:
“Hector has an impressive track record in successful leadership and governance. I and other members of the senior management team in the diocese are looking forward to working with and supporting him in this important public role, facilitating dialogue between parishes and the Board, and enabling the right priorities to be discerned and appropriately resourced.”
The Oxford Diocesan Synod met on Saturday 13 November for the first meeting of the new triennium. A summary of the Synod meeting will be available here.
About Sir Hector Sants
Since retiring in 2013, Hector has taken on a number of leadership roles in the public and charity sector:
- Current Chair of Money and Pensions Service since 2018.
- Chair and Trustee of StepChange charity (2015-18)
- Non-executive Chair of Julius Baer International (2015-18)
- Vice Chair and Partner of Oliver Wyman (2015-17)
- Chair of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group (2014-16)
- Chief Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Abu Dhabi Global Market (2014-15)
Prior to 2013, his executive roles include CEO of the Financial Services Authority and CEO of Credit Suisse Europe. Other non-executive positions he has held include Chair of the Oxford University Said Business School (2006-12) and Non-Executive Director in the NHS (2002-07).
In 2013, Hector received a knighthood in the New Year Honours list for his services to financial services and regulation and in 2016 he was awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Langton Medal for Community Service.
Hector is a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. He lives near Henley-on-Thames with his wife, Caroline and their pet whippets. Together they have three adult sons.