StepChange appoints new Chair of Trustees

^{4 March 2024}

Lesley Titcomb CBE has been appointed the new Chair of the Board of Trustees of StepChange Debt Charity, taking over from John Griffith-Jones who leaves the charity after more than five years in post.

Over the past few months, the charity has run a competitive recruitment process with substantial external interest in the role. Lesley’s time as a StepChange trustee, allied to her extensive previous experience in the financial services industry made her the standout candidate. 

Lesley has served on the StepChange board since 2019, acting as Board Champion for Consumer Duty and serving on the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. She is also the current Chair of the Market Harborough Building Society and was Chief Executive of The Pensions Regulator between 2015 and 2019. 

Lesley Titcomb said: “I am delighted to be taking over as the new Chair of StepChange Debt Charity - it’s a huge honour and I am greatly looking forward to helping shape and develop the charity’s direction in the coming months and years. I would like to thank John Griffith-Jones for his support and excellent work as Chair over the past five years, on which I now hope to build with the support of a strong Trustee and Executive team.”  

CEO Vikki Brownridge said: “We are all delighted to welcome Lesley to the role of Chair, and we know StepChange will benefit hugely from her wealth of experience, both on the board and in her previous roles. The rest of the Executive and I look forward to working with her in what is a hugely important time for the charity and the people we help. I’d also like to say a sincere personal thanks to John for all his hard work, guidance and support – particularly as I stepped up to the role as Chief Executive last year.” 

John Griffith-Jones, Chair of StepChange Debt Charity, said: “I’m extremely pleased to see Lesley appointed as StepChange’s next Chair of Trustees. It has been an honour to lead the charity’s board over the past five years and, having worked with Lesley during that time I know that the stewardship of StepChange is in the best possible hands.” 

Notes to Editors 

Lesley Titcomb Biography:  

Lesley is Chair of the Market Harborough Building Society, an independent non-executive director of National Bank of Kuwait International and of Pay.UK . She is also a Governor of the University of Hertfordshire. She was previously Chief Executive of The Pensions Regulator from 2015-2019. 

Lesley has worked in many different roles in financial services regulation since 1992 and before joining TPR was Chief Operating Officer of the FCA from 2010 to 2015. She is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.