Progress Together is pleased to welcome three new Board Members, strengthening our mission to drive socio-economic diversity in financial services. They are:
- Anne Barnett – Chief People Officer at Paragon Banking Group plc
- Andrew Foster – Head of Corporate Broking and Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
- Paul Fulcher – Group Capital Management and Investment Executive, Just Group plc
Anne Barnett
Anne is Chief People Officer for Paragon Banking Group PLC and is responsible for leading the Group’s people strategy. She is also a non-executive director at Citysave Credit Union and is a member of the Parliamentary Steering Committee for the APPG on Modernising Employment. Anne has previously worked at HBOS and Allianz and is Chartered FCIPD qualified.
Anne’s alignment with Progress Together’s mission is deeply personal and professional. She is committed to levelling the playing field in the financial services sector and has consistently championed diversity and inclusion throughout her career, understanding the leverage socio-economic diversity can bring. With a focus on creating career pathways and opportunities for underrepresented groups, Anne believes that by fostering an environment where meritocracy prevails, we can unlock the full potential of every individual, thereby enriching the sector as a whole.
Anne said: “I am thrilled to be joining the board of Progress Together. Socio-economic diversity at senior levels in financial services is crucial for fostering innovation, inclusivity, and better decision-making. By ensuring diverse representation, we can drive meaningful change and create a more equitable sector that benefits everyone. Andrew grew up in Essex and was fortunate to have been able to attend the local state grammar school. He was the first in his family to enter higher education and studied Economics and Business Finance at Brunel university before qualifying as an accountant and subsequently working in regulation at the London Stock Exchange.”
Andrew Foster
Andrew grew up in Essex and was fortunate to have been able to attend the local state grammar school. He was the first in his family to enter higher education and studied Economics and Business Finance at Brunel university before qualifying as an accountant and subsequently working in regulation at the London Stock Exchange.
Andrew is currently Head of Corporate Broking and a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. He has spent the last 25 years advising large UK listed companies primarily on their interactions with investors, fundraising and M&A. More recently he has also been a member of the firm’s Diversity Action Council with a particular focus on socio-economic diversity and broadening the talent pool. He sponsors an access programme for sixth form students which has been a successful pipeline for diverse candidates.
Andrew said: “Long term, sustainable success in financial services is dependent upon having access to and retention of the best talent. Progress Together’s work around socio-economic diversity and improving outcomes for the widest talent pool can play a critical part in improving firms’ competitiveness which benefits all those who work in this important sector.”
Paul Fulcher
Paul Fulcher is the Group Capital Management and Investment Executive at Just Group plc, a FTSE-listed specialist UK financial services company, where he is the executive sponsor for social mobility. He has 35 years’ experience in the life insurance sector, previously working at as a consultant at Milliman LLP, and in the investment banks of Nomura, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS. He is a Chartered Actuary (Fellow) of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Paul grew up in rural Norfolk, from a working-class background, and is passionate about making financial services an industry where everyone, from all walks of life, can thrive and achieve their full potential, while remaining true to their authentic self. Away from financial services, Paul is a Trustee of the Republic of Consciousness Foundation, a charity which promotes literary fiction published by small independent presses, art which both creates empathy and amplifies the voices of those from diverse backgrounds.
Paul said: “The guidance and resources provided by Progress Together were transformative for Just Group in our own journey towards building a truly inclusive culture, where everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background, has the opportunity to succeed. I’m delighted to now be joining the Board of Progress Together on the next stage of the journey to level the playing field across the UK financial services industry.”
Read more about Anne, Andrew, Paul and our other board members here
