Russam is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Benjamin as Chair of ShareSoc’s Board of Directors. ShareSoc, the premier UK membership organisation for individual investors, is thrilled to welcome Heather to this pivotal role.

Following an executive career with Centrica, where she ultimately served as Chief Procurement Officer, Heather has held numerous Chair and Non-Executive Director roles across private, public, and voluntary organisations. She has chaired Air Ambulances UK and Walsingham Support, which assists people with learning disabilities. Her diverse experience spans sectors such as financial services, water, the arts, and the voluntary sector.

In the financial services sector, Heather has served as Senior Independent Director at the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company Ltd, where she played a pivotal role in the digitisation of cheque handling, settlement, and clearing.

Heather’s leadership extends to member organisations, and she is enthusiastic about engaging with individual investors to understand their priorities and needs. She is currently an Independent NED for BlueLight Commercial, collaborating with police and fire forces across England and Wales to transform their commercial and procurement functions, a NED with Supply Chain Co-ordination Ltd, supporting NHS Trusts, and Vice President of The Leaders Club, which networks with senior leaders.

Heather said, “I am delighted to be joining this important organisation as Chair, and with my fellow directors leveraging our diverse experiences to reinforce ShareSoc’s position as the voice of individual investors. I look forward to building on the excellent work to date and developing new opportunities to engage with our many members as we continue developing our strategy – ensuring vital investor issues are given appropriate attention by the financial services regulators, government and industry.” 

Mike Dennis, ShareSoc director, added, “We are delighted to welcome Heather as Chair. Her 15 years’ experience in leadership and governance will ensure we get the best out of the impressive range of knowledge and talent we have now assembled.”  

ShareSoc is a not-for-profit organisation, created by investors for investors. It aims to improve the investment experience of individuals and to represent their interests.