Why this election matters for Nationwide members
Nationwide is a mutual — it is owned by its members.
That should mean members have a meaningful voice in how it is run.
The current situation
Over time, member engagement and influence have reduced:
- AGM voting is now ~4% of total members, and AGM attendance has also fallen to a few hundred members
- There has not been a Member Nominated Director, or even a candidate on the ballot, for over 20 years
- Key strategic decisions have taken place with limited direct member engagement
Why that matters
Strong governance in a mutual depends on:
- Active member participation
- Transparency
- Accountability at board level
Without this, there is a risk that a mutual begins to operate more like a listed bank — without the same level of shareholder oversight.
What I’m proposing
I am standing to:
- Represent the voice of members at board level
- Support stronger engagement with members
- Ensure key decisions are taken with greater transparency
Read more about me here: About James Sherwin-Smith