Meet our Board
Our skilled and experienced Board provides the leadership, strategic direction and scrutiny to enable Sovereign to achieve its social purpose, while growing sustainably.
To provide insight and challenge, the Board is supported by a committee structure with Board members and independent specialists, covering Audit and Risk, Remuneration, Treasury, Property Services and Investment.
As part of its commitment to best practice, the Board has adopted the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance and Excellence in Standards of Conduct Code.
While the Board is responsible for the effective governance of the business, day to day management is delegated to the Executive Board members.
Paul Massara
Chair, appointed 2020
Joined Sovereign Board 30 July 2020. A former CEO of RWE Npower, with extensive experience in the energy industry at Board level.
An experienced Non-Executive and Executive Director, in which Paul is an active member on the executive committee of both RWE and Centrica/Direct Energy and a Non-Executive Director of Electron.
Barbara Anderson
Audit and Risk Committee (Chair), Treasury Committee, appointed 2016
Joined Sovereign Board in 2014. A senior private sector executive with business interests including corporate governance and compliance, strategy and brand, financial and investment planning, Board and stakeholder management and communications.
Lee Bambridge
Treasury Committee (Chair), Property Services Committee, appointed 2016
Joined Sovereign Board in 2013. Chief Risk Officer at Newbury Building Society, Lee is a chartered accountant and corporate treasurer. He previously worked in the aerospace industry.
Tracey Barnes
Investment Committee (Chair), Treasury Committee, Property Services Committee, appointed 2019
Tracey, a PwC-trained chartered accountant, has an impressive 30-year career, here and abroad, most recently holding senior finance positions at Diageo, the international beer and spirits giant.
Tracey has a strong background in commercial finance, and is an experienced CFO, committed to developing successful teams as well as being passionate about equality.
Chris Broe
Audit & Risk Committee, Remuneration Committee, appointed 2019
Chris has more than 30 years of strategic and operational responsibilities for large, international businesses.
He specialises in using IT to improve efficiency and profitability through traditional systems, advanced analytics and digital innovation.
Jennifer Dykes
Resident Board member, Remuneration Committee, appointed 2016
Joined Sovereign Board in 2016. Former NHS manager Jennifer has been a social housing resident for over 40 years. Her focus is on ensuring Sovereign remains a strong organisation, committed to maintaining high standards of service and providing housing for those in need.
Stuart Laird
Investment Committee, Property Services Committee (Chair), appointed 2016
A senior executive with a proven track record in facilities management and outsourcing markets, with expertise in leading on property acquisitions and disposals.
Claire O’Shaughnessy
Investment Committee, appointed 2016
Joined Spectrum Board in 2016. Claire helped set up the Homes and Communities Agency before leading many of its major land, regeneration and investment programmes from 2008 to 2014. Claire brings experience from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Deloitte Real Estate as a director in real estate consulting.
Mark Washer
Investment Committee, appointed 2018
Mark, a highly skilled executive and non-executive with 25 years in the housing sector, joined Sovereign from Clarion in 2018. Mark is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Deloitte.
Mark is also a former Board member and vice chair of the National Housing Federation and has been involved with a number of national charities, including the Citizens Advice.
Angela Williams
Remuneration Committee (Chair), appointed 2017
An experienced executive and non-executive who has worked across FTSE30, US (incl. NASDAQ) and French listed companies.
Her expertise includes strategy design and delivery, global transformation, leading and creating customer focused businesses and teams as well as culture development and change management. Other skills include mergers, due diligence, restructuring, reward and pensions, leadership and talent development, employment law, business turnarounds, digital transformation, growth delivery and corporate responsibility.
Jane Wynne
Investment Committee, appointed 2019
Jane is a senior executive with more than two decades of property asset management and business experience in driving organisational improvement, for leading owners, investment managers, operators and advisors.