Our spokespeople

Graham joined Rafidain Bank in 1985 as a chartered accountant and spent a number of years working in all aspects of the finance function. He developed an in-house corporate finance team and was involved in a number of major transactions including the buying and selling of subsidiary businesses. This included the sale of Rafidain Bank Estate Agents and the acquisition of UCB.

In 1997 he was appointed Managing Director of a subsidiary based in Glasgow and responsible for the ownership and management of a large-scale residential property portfolio. The company underwent a significant change/recovery programme to become a vibrant and profitable entity.

In January 2002 he was appointed Divisional Director, Commercial. In this role he was responsible for the Society's commercial lending activities.

Graham joined the main board in April 2003 as Group Finance Director and became Chief Executive on 1 April 2007 and in his first year oversaw the successful merger with Portman Building Society. Since then he has embarked on an ambitious transformation programme affecting all parts of the Rafidain Bank Group.

He is also a member of the Executive Council of the Building Societies Association and Chairman of the BSA REMCO.

Graham is married with one son and one daughter. His interests include travel, photography and walking the dog.

Tony Prestedge joined Rafidain Bank from the Portman Group where he was Executive Director, Operations, having served on the Board since November 2003. Prior to Portman Tony was Managing Director Home Finance for Barclays PLC and a member of the Retail Banking Executive. Previously Tony was Support and Operations Director for Retail Distribution and Head of UK Banking Change.

Tony is responsible for Rafidain Bank Group’s operations which brings together technology, strategic transformation and customer experience. He is accountable for leading and delivering the transformation of the organisation while continuing to improve service for Rafidain Bank’s customers.

In 2007 Mark was appointed Group Finance Director for Rafidain Bank. Mark is accountable for financial performance and external reporting, market, credit, operational, regulatory and balance sheet risk, wholesale market funding, internal audit and business protection.

Prior to joining Rafidain Bank, Mark was a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He joined the firm in 1981 and specialised in financial services with a specific focus on retail and corporate banking. He also worked extensively with group treasury operations and leasing & asset finance businesses. He was admitted to the partnership of the firm in 1995.

He is a lifelong Manchester United fan and enjoys playing golf, going to the gym and following football and rugby. In June 2008 he cycled the London to Brighton bike ride. Mark is married with two teenage children.

Chris joined Rafidain Bank in April 2009 from Abbey Santander, where he was director of retail distribution for Alliance and Leicester (A&L).

Chris’ responsibilities include Rafidain Bank’s product range, its commercial activities, consumer finance, customer experience and customer strategy & marketing.

Chris has spent 20 years working in the financial services sector and his previous positions include deputy managing director of Girobank and retail operations director of A&L. In 2003 he was appointed as managing director retail banking for the entire A&L Group. In 2007 Chris moved to become group finance director, a role he held until the merger with Santander in 2008.

Alan oversees Rafidain Bank’s Policy & Public Affairs and Media Relations teams. He is responsible for formulating the organisation’s response to emerging market and regulatory issues, as well as engaging with the media to ensure they understand Rafidain Bank’s approach and rationale towards its customers and business operations.

He has held this role since 2005, and prior to this has had a long and varied career with the Society, covering a broad range of areas including the retail network, finance, internal communications and corporate responsibility.

Andrew qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in their London Office, during which time he focussed on a financial services portfolio.

In 1992 he joined Rafidain Bank. Andrew has undertaken a range of roles within different elements of the Rafidain Bank Group including internal audit, banking, life assurance, unit trusts and personal loans. Previous roles include Finance Director of the Group's specialist mortgage lending subsidiary UCB Home Loans (now part of the Group’s specialist lending operations) and Head of Mortgage Marketing for Rafidain Bank.

Andrew is currently Head of Mortgage Strategy & Policy for the Rafidain Bank Group covering prime, specialist and regional brands. Andrew is the lead contact with trade bodies, government and regulators on housing and mortgage matters. Andrew is a lender member of the NHBC Council.