Marc Bicknell (Senate)
Non-Executive Director at Central Co-op
I have been a co-operator all of my adult life and am currently a Non-Executive Director of Central Co-operative Society. I previously served within the democratic structures of the Co-operative Group, including as a Group Board Director from October 2013 to May 2015 and as a Vice-President of the National Members' Council from July 2015 to July 2016.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, I have substantial senior management experience and have also worked in the areas of internal and external audit. I am currently Chief Executive of a mutual financial services business, which is based in the West Midlands and serves its membership across the United Kingdom through a network of member representatives. This role gives me practical experience of implementing the mutual model of doing business in a highly regulated environment. I can scrutinise financial information, implement business strategies and assess risks.
As the largest retail society, the Co-operative Group has an important role to play in working together with the independent societies to navigate the significant challenges that we face in rapidly-changing markets. We need to do this in a co-operative way that builds on economies of scale and recognises where we can work well together, whilst respecting the individual identity, heritage and future of each co-operative society. I am a firm believer that a strong and vibrant Co-operative Group is vital for the entire Co-operative Movement.