Skipton Group

Following an extensive recruitment process, Skipton Group, is delighted to announce the appointment of Jasvinder Gakhal as Skipton Group’s new CEO of Money (subject to regulatory approval).

Jazz – as she prefers to be known - is Andrew Bottomley’s successor to the role, following his retirement announcement in Autumn last year. Jazz will join Skipton Group on 3 March and will work closely with Andrew for a seamless transition, before he retires after his final Annual General Meeting in April.

Jazz, who is based in Leeds, joins Skipton Group from the Direct Line Group, where she worked for 19 years.  With a wealth of extensive experience, leading multi-disciplinary teams across multiple sites. Most recently she spent three years as Managing Director of Direct Line’s flagship Motor & Rescue business. Leading the business through a period of significant change, overseeing a transformation in pricing, the delivery of complex regulatory change, and the embedding of a new technology and operational infrastructure.

Notably, Jazz is a champion of gender diversity and women in senior business roles. She’s previously featured in the Northern Power Women list of ‘Top 50 Women to Watch’ and Green Park’s BAME 100 Board Talent Index.

Commenting on Jasvinder’s appointment, Skipton Group Chief Executive Stuart Haire said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Jazz Gakhal has agreed to join Skipton Group and take over the ‘CEO Money’ reigns from Andrew Bottomley who announced his decision to retire in autumn last year.

“Jazz is creative, energetic and passionate, and leads people and businesses with authenticity. With her experience of delivering both commercial and customer outcomes, and her natural curiosity, she’s perfect for what we want to achieve in our Money business – making our members’ money work even harder.

“I also want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you and share how much I will miss Andrew Bottomley. His passion, experience and fun nature will be missed round the Executive table but will be a huge add round any Board table as he starts his portfolio career.”

Jazz Gakhal, said:

“I am delighted to be joining the Skipton Group, a business with its roots in Yorkshire, and to have the opportunity to lead their Money Business. I am genuinely excited to be joining an organisation that puts their customers at the heart of everything they do and by their mission to support their members with long term financial well-being.”

Skipton Group is here to help its members and customers save for their life ahead and support their long-term financial wellbeing. Skipton do this through its ‘Money’ Business, which focuses on making members money work harder for them, encompassing Skipton’s distribution capabilities (including Financial Advice) alongside the Advice and Savings product teams and Skipton’s branch network.