Stuart Purdy became Chairman of British Friendly in 2019 and holds several roles in UK financial services businesses. He is the Chair of Assurant Europe Group and is a Board member of Medical Protection Society, a global mutual organisation. He is also the Senior Independent Director and Board Member of International General Insurance (UK).

In his executive career, Stuart was Product and Investment Director of Aviva Europe, CEO of Ireland’s largest insurance group and led the launch of Aviva’s business in India. His last Executive role was as CEO of RSA’s Asia and Middle East Region.

While in India, Stuart established a partnership with Arpana Trust to set up the Aviva Balvatika School in the slum resettlement area of Delhi that has now educated more than 6000 children. He has a strong belief in Corporate Social Responsibility. Stuart is also the Chair of Age Scotland, a charity that supports older people across Scotland. Stuart lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two children.

Samantha Blackie joined the Board in June 2019 as a Non-Executive Director and is Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. She has over 30 years’ corporate experience as a Human Resources Director, starting her career in retail followed by several senior positions across the Financial Services sector, including Group People and Corporate Affairs Director at Royal London, the UK’s largest Mutual Life Insurance and Pensions company. In addition, Sam has been a trustee of UK and Irish pension schemes, a Trustee of Meningitis Now, as well as a Council member of Aberystwyth University where she also chaired the Governance and Compliance Committee.

Sam is currently a Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Remuneration Committee for the Medical Protection Society and Monmouth Building Society. Through both her executive and non-Executive career, Sam has extensive experience of the operation of governance committees such as the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and now chairs this committee within the Society. Having completed her Masters in Business Psychology, she has a particular interest in leadership development, culture and organisation change. Outside of work, Sam enjoys the outdoor life that living near the Forest of Dean brings and is a keen gardener.

Perry is an actuary with 35 years in financial services and since 2021 has Chaired the Risk & Investment Committee. In 2025, Perry became the CEO at Flood Re, a specialist flood reinsurer. He has also Chaired the Audit and Risk Committee at Assurant UK, a general insurer, since 2023. He has been CEO of HSBC’s UK Life insurer, HSBC Re, HSBC Insurance Ireland, and was founding CEO of RGA UK - a pan-European life reinsurer. He’s also been Group Chief Actuary for a global bank and a Group Chief Risk Officer of several large firms, including Scottish Widows and Lloyds Bank’s Wealth business, covering stock broking, investment, asset management and wealth advisory. He’s held directorships in the UK, Bermuda, Ireland, India, South Africa, Holland, Malta & Luxembourg. In 2017 he was elected for a 3-year term to the Council for the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries. He’s been an Associate of the Society of Actuaries in the USA and a Certified Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA). Perry completed an MBA in 2004 and thoroughly enjoyed it! Perry is dyslexic, which complicated his early school years, but he believes this often allows him to bring a different perspective.

Simon Owens joined the Board in June 2020 as the Society’s Chief Financial Officer and subsequently became the Society’s Chief Executive Officer in June 2021. Simon has over 20 years’ experience of working in the Financial Services sector where he has held financial, commercial and operational leadership positions in Life Insurance, Health Insurance, General Insurance, Pensions and Financial Advice businesses including Legal & General and Aviva. Simon’s desire to make a difference and commercial acumen has led to key strategic roles delivering transformation and change. Simon also serves as a Board member of the Association of Financial Mutuals. The Association of Financial Mutuals promotes, and supports, the mutual sector for the benefit of customers and members throughout the U.K.

Originally from Cheshire, Simon now lives in Surrey and is married with four children and two dogs. Simon is a qualified youth football, rugby and cricket coach and spends much of his time away from the Society encouraging and developing children’s passion for sport. Simon provides further support to his community as a Board member of a Multi Academy Trust incorporating seven local schools.

Karen joined the Society in August 2024. She has over fifteen years’ experience in financial services, having worked across insurance, banking and financial planning. Karen lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and pets, a German Shepherd and black cat. Outside of work, she enjoys pottery, knitting and baking celebration cakes. She has five grown‑up children and a growing number of grandchildren, who keep her happily busy.