Sarah Gardiner
Kibworth Harcourt,Leicestershire
Summary
Strategic and results-driven senior financial services leader with 25+ years’ experience across retail, commercial banking, and capital markets. Proven track record in origination, relationship management, and leading high-performing teams. Recognized for delivering complex funding programs, driving business development, and building robust stakeholder relationships in regulated environments. Adept at managing risk, governance, and regulatory change, with a passion for innovation and supporting purpose led growth.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
UK Network Insights & Strategy Director
British Business Bank
2021.12 - 2026.02
- Key member of the senior leadership team responsible for strategic planning, stakeholder engagement including intermediaries, UKEF, DBT/HMG, Growth Hubs and lenders working closely with other teams across the Bank including Banking, Investment, Policy & Strategy, Communications and Public Affairs.
- Built the 5-year strategy for the UK Network informed by our intel from stakeholders including SMEs. More recently played a key role in delivering the Place Strategy for the Bank working closely with Policy & Strategy.
- Developed and built a live regional intelligence dashboard which enables the team to see key trends and barriers with access to finance at a regional and national level.
- Led a successful pilot around ‘Finance Readiness’ to educate SMEs with over 1700 SMEs taking part of a 3-month period and excellent feedback.
- Leading on key projects, such ensuring SMEs can grow sustainably and unlock potential Overseeing budget, risk and compliance framework.
Executive Head of Growth, Investor Relations and PR
Fair For You Enterprise (CDFI - Fintech)
2020.05 - 2021.06
- Executed strategy development for five-year growth plan, directly advising CEO.
- Raised over £12 million in funding to assist families during pandemic while managing State Aid compliance.
- Established strong media presence, generating articles in Independent, Times, and 20 other publications.
- Supported over 45,000 families in accessing essential items without resorting to high-cost credit.
- Led Investor Relations and partnerships, including Marcus Rashford Taskforce focused on child welfare.
- Managed existing social investors while attracting new investors to enhance funding base.
- Oversaw lending and collections functions to mitigate financial risks effectively.
- Directed all communications across digital and social media platforms for stakeholder engagement.
Consultant for Chadwick Accountants & Digital Marketing
2018.06 - 2021.04
- Working with new apprentices training for PR diploma.
- Virtual training sessions to support students with each module.
- Consultancy work around funding and investor pitches.
- Business planning and start-up funding.
- Crisis management and project planning.
Head of Investor Relations & Rating Agencies
Nationwide Building Society (NBS)
2005.04 - 2018.03
- Established and led the Investor Relations function from inception, expanding the investor base from around 350 UK/European investors to approximately 2,000 globally, overseeing £60 billion of funding, both debt and equity.
- Developed and managed the Investor Relations programme and communications, organising and presenting at global roadshows for audiences of up to 250
- Prepared Board materials on strategy and performance, collaborating with the CEO and CFO on confidential matters including several mergers under tight deadlines.
- Managed the Investor Relations budget with consideration of Group-wide cost targets.
- Led Annual and Interim Results events, drafted financial performance messages, and advised on external stakeholder issues.
- Maintained relationships with Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch, presenting at semi-annual reviews.
- Built and upgraded the Investor Relations CRM database to ensure GDPR compliance in 2016.
- Top 3 lender & savings institution in the UK with assets of over £250 billion and 15 million members.
Senior Manager Treasury Capital Markets
Nationwide Building Society (NBS)
2003.03 - 2005.03
- Responsible for planning and executing of wholesale fundraising activities from external investors both short- and long-term making use of the most cost-effective currencies and programmes.
- Preparing management information and Board packs to support funding activities.
- Mitigating interest rates risk, Forex and liquidity.
- Team leadership and training for a team of 30 staff.
- Documentation of all procedures and processes in line with regulatory requirements.
Senior Manager Syndicated Lending – Corporate Lending Division
Nationwide Building Society (NBS)
2000.02 - 2003.02
- Responsible for larger commercial lending activities above £50 million+ finding ways to reduce exposure by selling part of the loan to reduce the exposure to individual corporate clients in line with all legal documentation.
- Lending mandate of £1 million for individual loans.
- Preparing Information Memorandums for the corporate loans to be sold to other counterparties.
- Credit analysis and reporting to Credit Committee and Board.
Senior Lending Underwriter – Corporate Lending
Nationwide Building Society (NBS)
1999.05 - 2000.01
- Financial analysis and underwriting of corporate loans, individual mandate to approve loans up to £1 million.
- Credit monitoring of existing loans and security.
- Auditing of Lending Managers and their portfolios.
- Team leadership and training.
- Preparation of management information and Board papers.
Senior Manager Clydesdale Coventry (Retail and Business Unit)
Clydesdale (National Australia Bank Group)
1997.01 - 1999.05
- Responsible for a team of 40 employees (Youngest manager at Clydesdale).
- Responsible for all budget, financial and sales targets.
- Turned around an underperforming branch from being 253rd in the league table to 18th.
- Preparation of monthly management information.
- Team leadership and development.
Education
BSc First Class Honours - Business Studies & Finance
The University of Manchester
Skills
- Stakeholder management
- Leadership and engagement
- Strategic planning
- Origination expertise
- Financial analysis
- Crisis management
- Communications and marketing
- Governance and risk
Interests
Running, Peloton Tread UK Member, Pilates, ballet and theatre.
Accomplishments
- Established and led Investor Relations for Nationwide Building Society, the UK's second-largest mortgage lender, developing global engagement strategies with investors, stakeholders, media, and rating agencies. Awarded ‘Best Head of IR for Banks and Corporates’ by IFM in 2015.
- Led delivery of the first equity product for a mutual organisation, raising £500m of Tier 1 capital. The complex project overcame multiple internal and external challenges, resulting in a transaction that was 4x oversubscribed within 3 hours and praised by UK media as “Nationwide achieves the impossible”.
- Received the CEO award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Business’ due to the success of the funding and capital raising and the ongoing relationship and engagement with investors and senior stakeholders through extremely challenging market conditions.
- One of the final 15 successful applicants for the Government sponsored Inclusive Economy Partnership 2021, from more than 500 applicants. The programme focuses on small businesses across the UK, dedicated to ensuring financial inclusion, youth education and mentoring, with a mission to bring about a fairer, stronger more connected UK.
- Raised over £12m of funding during the global pandemic to support vulnerable families, working in partnership with the Marcus Rashford Taskforce and Sir Malcolm Walker the Chairman of Iceland.
- Recruited and trained more than 250 graduates to go onto successful careers in senior management in Financial Services.
- Awarded 2 high profile prizes for my professional banking qualification from the London Institute of Banking & Finance: Highest mark in the Financial Services Module. 2nd highest aggregate mark on completion of my professional qualification, both featured in the Times newspaper in 2 consecutive years.
Affiliations
- Running, Member of Peloton Tread community, Pilates and ballet
Certification
Bsc (Hons) First Class - Business Studies & Finance
ACIB - Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers