Executive management

Skills, competencies and experience:

Stuart was appointed Group Chief Customer Officer in November 2018, having been Group Marketing Director since December 2017. He joined Saga in December 2016 as Marketing Director for Saga Holidays and Cruises. Stuart has spent over 20 years in marketing including 13 years at British Airways where he was responsible for customer marketing worldwide. He went on to lead Customer Relationship Marketing & Insight for Virgin Holidays before joining bmi as Marketing, Product and eCommerce Director. Prior to Saga, Stuart worked at Barclaycard as Marketing Director, Digital Marketplace where he launched new eCommerce ventures for the bank.

Skills, competencies and experience:

Karen joined Saga in 2015 as Group Human Resources Director and leads the development and implementation of the company's HR strategy. Previously, she was Group Human Resources Director at Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc. Karen graduated from Glasgow University in 1991 with an MA (Hons) in History and is ACII and FCIPD qualified. She has gone on to build a career in Human Resources Management, holding a variety of senior positions. Karen spent 10 years in Financial Services working in a number of HR positions for Royal & SunAlliance and Barclays Bank. Karen then went on to hold Human Resources Director roles at Channel Five, The Financial Times, Punch Taverns & Spirit Group PLC and Morrisons PLC.

Other roles:

Karen is currently an independent non-executive director of Howden Joinery Group PLC and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Skills, competencies and experience:

Jules joined Saga in 1997 after an early career in software application development and business analysis roles. Prior to becoming Group IT Director in 2008, Jules's roles have included Head of Application Development, IT Director for the Services Division and IT Director for Travel. Jules led the IT transformation programme initiated in 2007, which included the in-sourcing of a number of critical IT services and re-platforming of enterprise applications. Alongside his primary responsibilities, Jules has fulfilled a number of strategic project and programme leadership roles in the IT, Digital and operational domains.

Skills, competencies and experience:

Gary joined Saga in September 2017 as CEO, Saga Services and leads the insurance broking and personal finance businesses. Gary has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services and insurance industry, running large scale businesses in the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Gary joined from BGL where he was Managing Director of Junction. Prior to that Gary held a number of CEO/MD roles at Towergate, Barclays, GE & HBOS, having starting his career in Finance.

Skills, competencies and experience:

Robin was appointed to the role of CEO, Saga Travel in January 2018 after joining in March 2010 as CEO of its cruise division. His latest appointment has overall responsibility for all of Saga's travel businesses which include Saga Holidays, Titan Tours, Destinology and Saga Cruises including its new build program. Prior to Saga Robin spent a total of 13 years within the travel industry at Avis Europe and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines where he was latterly VP, Managing Director for UK & Ireland. Robin's early work years included qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and spending 7 years at PepsiCo International in various finance and strategic planning roles.

Skills, competencies and experience:

Helen was appointed Chief Risk and Compliance Officer in 2018, having joined Saga in 2009 as Group Head of Internal Audit. Helen leads the second line of defence assurance functions for the Saga Group, and advises the board on risk and regulatory matters. Prior to Saga, Helen was a Head of Internal Audit within Barclays’ Global Retail and Commercial Banking division, after spending her early career within the Bank of England’s internal audit function. Helen graduated from Oxford University in 1998 and is a Chartered Accountant.