Mark Parker
Non Executive Director | Committee Chair | Technology, Transformation & Risk Governance Specialist
Mark Parker is an experienced Non Executive Director in UK regulated financial services, bringing a distinctive blend of board level governance expertise, technology and transformation oversight, and deep operational and risk leadership from a career spanning CEO, COO and CIO roles. PRA & FCA approved, he offers boards a strong command of PRA SS1/23, FCA Consumer Duty, Operational Resilience and SMF accountabilities, combined with a pragmatic, commercially grounded style of challenge.
Mark currently serves on the Boards of Coventry Building Society Group and The Co operative Bank, contributing across Audit, Risk, Change and Remuneration Committees. He previously served as Chair of the Simplification & Technology Committee at The Co operative Bank, where he led board oversight of multi year technology modernisation, platform simplification, cloud strategy, cyber uplift and operational resilience strengthening. His governance approach is characterised by clarity, constructive challenge, and the ability to translate complex digital, cyber and operational issues into clear board decisions.
Across his NED roles, Mark has played a key part in shaping operational resilience frameworks, technology risk governance, data and cyber strategies, transformation assurance, and third party/outsourcing oversight, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory expectations. He brings a strong understanding of risk culture, remuneration alignment, and customer outcomes, with a track record of supporting executive teams through large scale change.
Mark’s executive career includes senior leadership roles at Hastings Insurance, Virgin Money, Northern Rock, Intelligent Finance, and HBOS, where he delivered major transformations, cloud migrations, operational turnarounds, and regulatory remediation programmes. His early career at PepsiCo, British Sugar, Boots and Sainsbury’s provides additional breadth across operations, technology and large scale change.
Alongside his NED roles, Mark is an Associate Partner at Elixirr Consulting, advising boards and executive teams on digital transformation, data & technology strategy, cyber security, AI and innovation.
He is known for his integrity, calm authority, and ability to coach and support executive teams while maintaining rigorous governance and oversight.
