The money and investments in the Scheme are held in a trust, completely separate from Santander. A Trustee company, called Santander (UK) Group Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, is responsible for running the Scheme. This company has a board of individual Trustees who work together to manage the Scheme in the best interests of you, the members.
The Trustees are supported by a team of professional advisers including investment managers, legal advisers, an actuary (who regularly checks the Scheme has enough money to pay benefits), and auditors.
We’re currently looking for two members to join our Trustee Board and help run the Santander (UK) Group Pension Scheme. You can apply on our dedicated page - the deadline for applications is 20 January 2025. For more information, read our latest Scheme update.
Your Trustee Board
There are currently 10 Trustees on the Board. Some Trustees are appointed by Santander UK plc and others are nominated by members.
Independent Trustees
Pablo Plaza Mayor
Pablo is an independent Trustee who joined the board in May 2024. He has over 35 years of experience in Benefits and Pensions consulting. Over that period, he has managed consulting projects for large multinationals as well as domestic companies. He has held different international leadership positions at Mercer, Willis Towers Watson and Aon.
He has a Degree in Business Administration from Madrid Complutense University, an Executive MBA by IESE, and is a member of the Spanish Institute of Actuaries.
He has held a season ticket since 1973 at Real Madrid, and enjoys Classic Cars, Golf and Sailing.
Frank Oldham
Frank joined the Board on 1 October 2020 and is Chair of the Trustee Board. He is also on the Integrated Risk Management Committee. Frank is an independent professional Trustee from the trustee company Independent Governance Group (IGG). He was previously Global Leader of DB Risk Consulting and Solutions at Mercer. He is a keen photographer of nature and the outdoors, a cyclist and a recreational skier.
Company-appointed Trustees
Matthew Richardson
Matthew joined the Board in March 2024. Matthew works as Head of Accounting in Financial Control at Santander UK plc. Outside of work Matthew enjoys cricket, film, theatre and reading.
Amaya Mazaira
Amaya joined the Board in January 2018. She works as Head of Treasury and Structured Finance Legal at Santander UK plc. Amaya’s interests outside being a Trustee include her children, friends, skiing, sailing, travelling, photography, theatre and reading.
Jane Bland
Jane joined the Board in March 2024. Jane is currently Director of Costs at Santander UK. She has over 20 years’ experience in financial services and was formerly Director of Pensions. In her free time Jane enjoys reading, walking and going to the theatre.
Marc Hauert
Marc joined the Board on in August 2023. He is currently the Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer at Santander UK plc. Marc joined Santander in 2005 and has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. In his free time, Marc enjoys playing racquet sports and keeping up with the latest developments in technology and science (his academic background is in science, having earned a doctorate in physics).
Member-nominated Trustees
Peter Curry
Peter joined the Board in July 2015. He was Head of Cash Management in Santander Corporate and Commercial Bank until October 2018, when he retired after nearly 39 years’ service. He is a season ticket holder for Liverpool Football Club and also enjoys badminton, walking, cycling, reading and travelling.
Susie Carpenter
Susie joined the Board in August 2018. She is currently a Branch Manager at Alton, and sits on the Operations Committee. Outside work, Susie enjoys spending time with her family, golfing holidays, reading, films and sewing.
Christine McGowan
Christine joined the Board in August 2024. She has spent all of her career working in Financial Services, heading up operational and change functions and latterly as an independent management consultant focusing on operational transformation. Away from her role as Trustee, Christine volunteers with Children's Hearings Scotland and in her free time enjoys family time, theatre trips, dining out, travel and painting.
Mark Colman
Mark joined the Board in August 2020. From 2008 to 2015, he was the Chief Information Officer of the in-house team that managed the Santander Common Investment Fund. From 2015 to 2019, he worked part time as a consultant for Santander Asset Management, supporting their advisory work for the Santander CIF. In his spare time, Mark is a part-time groundsman and coach at his local cricket club. He also enjoys salmon fishing and skiing.