Nottingham Building Society has announced the appointment of Russ Thornton as its new chief technology officer.

Thornton initially joined the 176-year-old mutual in March 2025 as a strategic advisor in an interim capacity from Shawbrook Bank.

He worked at Shawbrook for six years, leading a comprehensive multi-year digital transformation which involved creating the strategy and its roadmap to delivering its execution.

Thornton has over 34 years of experience in leading digital transformations to drive business growth, having previously held other senior leadership positions at Cofunds, Legal & General, Aegon, and WorldRemit.

In his new role, Thornton will be responsible for the delivery of Nottingham Building Society’s core banking and mortgage transformation strategies.

Thornton takes on the role from Paul Howley, who will leave this month three years after his appointment as the organisation’s first ever chief technology and transformation officer in 2022.
Sue Hayes, chief executive at Nottingham Building Society, said that Thornton has already had a “great impact” on the business and brings the cultural insight needed to embed lasting change.

“He has successfully delivered complex transformation across banks, FinTechs, and global financial services institutions, including most recently at Shawbrook, where his work played a key role in more than doubling the bank’s loan book and deposits while radically improving digital experiences for customers and brokers alike,” she added. “This is a pivotal moment for the Society pivotal as we prepare to launch new technology that will transform the mortgage experience for brokers, borrowers, and colleagues alike.”

Nottingham Building Society also confirmed that Aaron Shinwell, formerly of Santander UK, where he was commercial director – homes, will be starting his new role as chief lending officer in August.

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