A New Choice for Nationwide Members
James Sherwin-Smith has been nominated by Members and will appear on the 2026 ballot for election to the Nationwide Board. This is the first opportunity in over 20 years to elect a Member Nominated Director.
Voting begins in June, but the exact process is not yet clear — subscribe for updates from James.
Can you help elect James? Please register here.
- Member-nominated candidate
- 20+ years in financial services
- Former CEO & Payments infrastructure executive
- Regular commentator in the press, including coverage in:
Why this matters
Nationwide has over 16 million members and is going through a period of significant change, including the integration of Virgin Money.
This election is an opportunity to strengthen member voice at board level.
- Members rarely have a choice of alternative candidates in board elections (not since 2005)
- Decisions taken now will shape the Society for years to come
- This is a chance to elect a director nominated by members
Mutuals have a critical role in society. Read more from James on
How voting works
Voting in Nationwide elections is simple — but how you vote matters.
Many members use the “Quick Vote” option, which allows them to follow the Board’s recommendations with a single selection.
In a contested election, understanding how to vote — and making an active choice — becomes more important.
Read James’ simple guide before voting opens.
About James
James Sherwin-Smith is a financial services executive with over 20 years’ experience, including as a CEO and in leading critical UK payments infrastructure.
He is standing as a member-nominated candidate to bring an independent, constructive voice to the Nationwide Board.
His focus is on:
- Strong governance and effective challenge
- Long-term success of the Society
- Ensuring members’ interests are clearly represented
Read more about James Sherwin-Smith and read his Election address.
Become a supporter
James election may depend on Member awareness of an alternative candidate and the voting process, the details of which are yet to be determined.
If you’d like to help, please:
- Stay informed and be ready to vote
- Share updates with other Nationwide members
- Help spread the word when voting opens
Voting begins in June, but the exact process is not yet clear — subscribe for updates from James.
Can you help elect James? Please register here.
Voting opens in June and closes at the AGM on 15 July.
If you are a Nationwide member, your vote can make a difference.
Stay informed and be ready to vote – please subscribe for email updates from James, subject to the Privacy Policy.