John Stewart

JOHN STEWART is Group Chief Executive of The Woolwich. He joined The
Woolwich in 1977, initially working in the branch network. He became
Insurance Services Manager in 1996 and, in 1989, started Woolwich
Independent Financial Advisory Services, now one of the UK’s largest IFA
businesses. He was also responsible for the launch of Woolwich Unit
Trust Managers and Woolwich Life Assurance Company. He was appointed to
The Woolwich Board in January 1995 as Group Operations Director and
became Group Chief Executive in July of the following year, seeing The
Woolwich through its successful stock market flotation a year later.
Since taking the helm – an appropriate metaphor for someone whose main
source of relaxation off the job is sailing -John has begun a process of
transformation at The Woolwich. An increased focus on individual
performance and accountability has encouraged a culture of meritocracy,
in which exceptional performance attracts exceptional rewards. With his
declared strategy of changing The Woolwich, John has encouraged his
management team to adopt an innovative approach. This has already led
to a number of new products and services being launched, including Open
Plan Services, an integrated personalised banking service which combines
one-to-one advice with a high level of control on the part of the
customer and can be operated through the Internet, telephone or
branches, and Global Home Loans, a fee based mortgage service company,
in partnership with Countrywide Credit Industries Inc, the largest
independent mortgage company in North America. John is married with two
children.