Saffron Building Society
John Penberthy-Smith has a diverse work experience spanning over three decades. John is currently working as the Chief Commercial Officer at Saffron Building Society, a position they have held since April 2020. Prior to this, John was the Interim Customer Director at Harpenden Building Society from December 2019 to April 2020.
From 2014 to 2018, John served as the Executive Customer Director at Money Advice Service, where they were a member of the board and executive team. In 2018, they were appointed as Deputy CEO. During their tenure, John provided free and impartial financial advice to consumers, successfully improving marketing, operational business functions, and implementing a complex change program.
Before joining Money Advice Service, John ran their own consultancy business named Emeth Consulting Limited from September 2012 to December 2014. John worked with clients such as Facebook and IBM and also acted as an interim CEO for an educational distributor and as an interim Digital Strategy Director for an online agency.
John took a sabbatical from August 2011 to July 2012 before joining Meteor Mobile Communications as the Chief Commercial Officer from July 2009 to July 2011. Prior to that, they were the Marketing Director at 3 from October 2006 to September 2008.
Starting their career in 1989, John held various roles in well-known companies. John was the Director of Consumer Marketing at Vodafone from September 1999 to October 2006, Head of Marketing at Thorn EMI from June 1993 to November 1999, and a Product Manager at Dixons Stores Group from September 1989 to May 1993.
Overall, John Penberthy-Smith brings extensive experience in commercial, customer, and marketing roles to their current position as the Chief Commercial Officer at Saffron Building Society.
John Penberthy-Smith attended The Manchester Metropolitan University from 1985 to 1989, where they obtained a 2.1 degree in BSc Applied Biological Sciences.
Saffron Building Society
WE ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE PUT PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS We opened our doors in 1849 to help people save and borrow. Since then, our products have changed with the times, but what has stayed the same is our commitment to you WHO ARE WE? We’re a mutual, regional building society with extremely strong ties within the local community. This puts us in a unique position and helps us to really understand our customers’ needs so we can offer them a personal service. We can do this because as a mutual, everything we do is for our members. WHAT DO WE DO? We combine a competitive range of savings and mortgage products with an ambition to deliver better service. It’s our service that really sets us apart. Time and again, our people go above and beyond to make sure our customers are taken care of. DID YOU KNOW? Saffron Building Society is a major employer in the region. With a thriving operations centre and our dynamic administration offices in close proximity to Saffron Walden, along with 8 successful branches through Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire, we offer a variety of exciting job opportunities.