Stephen Watts

Town of residence: Cambridge                                                       Occupation: Open University Tutor                          
Age: 59                                                                                                         Ethnicity: White (English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British) 

1. What is your current involvement in The Co-operative?
Member of Cambridge and East Anglia Area Committee, Regional Board, Co-operative Group Board and Financial Services Board. I am Deputy Chair of the Co-operative Group and Specialist Business Board Chair. 

2. What qualifications and/or experience do you possess that are relevant to the position of area committee member?
I have a Master of Arts degree in economics and have taught economics and statistics for 22 years. I have been a member of the co-operative movement for 31 years and have over 20 years of experience at all levels of co-operative democracy.

3. What other qualities would you bring to the role of area committee member?
I am a passionate believer in co-operation and will continue to campaign to keep our values and principles at the centre of everything we do. I believe I am a good team player who will work with our employees to improve the quality and level of service provided to members.

4. What aspirations do you have for The Co-operative?
In all my years as a co-operator I have never been prouder to consume the goods and services we provide to members, but we cannot stand still. My aspiration for the Group is to continue improving our range of goods and services at competitive prices whilst raising further our ethical credentials. To be successful we must become an employer of choice; as our employees are our greatest ambassadors.