Peter Rowley

Peter Rowley spent over 30 years in senior roles in banks and building societies before retiring as chief executive of Darlington Building Society in 2009 after 17 years in post. Since then, he has enjoyed a second career as a non-executive director, trustee and consultant providing advice and guidance to a diverse range of private, public and not for profit clients.

He is Vice Chairman of StreetGames UK, a trustee of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and company secretary of Tees Valley Community Foundation. Previous posts in sport include roles as Chairman of Sport England North East, Chairman of the North East London 2012 Nations and Regions Committee, North East Regional Champion for Community Sport, Chairman of The Sports Council Trust Company, Chairman of British Weightlifting, Chairman of SkillsActive UK and board member of Sport England and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.

A Fellow of the Centre for Governance, Leadership and Global Responsibility at Leeds Beckett University and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he lectures in economics, finance and strategic management in sport at Northumbria University and is a consultant on governance and assurance for two grant-making trusts.

A keen hill walker and runner, Peter believes passionately in the power of sport to change lives and communities for the better. He received the OBE for services to sport administration in the New Year Honours List 2017.