Skipton appoints new chairman

Mr Ellis replaces Alastair Findlay, who has stepped down from the society’s board having served as a non-executive director for five years.

Mr Ellis is currently a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of WH Smith.

In a statement, Skipton Building Society said: “Mike has extensive experience in financial services with the Halifax Building Society, which became Halifax and subsequently HBOS following the merger of Halifax and the Bank of Scotland.”