Our Directors
The Cornish Mutual Board of Directors is currently made up of the following people:
Chairman: Ian Pawley
As a solicitor, Ian Pawley has lived and worked in Cornwall for all his professional life. He understands the agricultural sector particularly well having dealt with many issues around farming and inheritance tax. Ian, a former managing partner of regional legal firm Stephens Scown, joined the Cornish Mutual Board in 2009 and brought with him an extensive knowledge of modern legal and business requirements including corporate governance. Ian was elected Deputy Chairman in April 2010.He takes an active interest in the rural and agricultural community in the South West. Ian also holds a number of other non-executive director and trustee positions in Cornwall, as well as being involved in local charity work and the St Austell Rotary Club.
Managing Director: Alan Goddard
Alan Goddard joined the company as Deputy General Manager in December 2001. Alan was appointed Managing Director in August 2004 and became a Member of the Board. Alan’s experience of the financial and insurance sectors is second to none, having worked in the industry for most of his adult life. Alan, a Chartered Insurer, is also a Board Member of the Association of Financial Mutuals and has previously worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Royal Insurance Group. He is passionate about the rural community in the South West and sits on the Staff Management Committee of Cornwall Young Farmers Clubs (CYFC).
Chris Down
Chris Down has been a Board member since November 2005, serving as Deputy Chairman until April 2010. He farms over 1000 acres in East Devon, mainly arable but also an 800 sow outdoor unit that produces maiden gilts for PIC plus an agricultural contracting business which operates from Crealy Park at Clyst St. Mary. The Chief Executive of Maximum Fun Group, the group of companies that operate Cornwall’s Crealy and Devon's Crealy Great Adventure Parks at Tredinnick, Near Wadebridge and Clyst St. Mary, Near Exeter, he has wide experience of the farming and rural community in the South West as well as understanding the current business issues that we all face today.
Senior Independent Director: Gerald Blewett
Gerald Blewett has long been involved in all aspects of the agricultural sector in the South West; most recently having farmed in a family partnership. He has also held directorships of both Gelly Pigs Ltd and Wadebridge Abattoir. He was appointed a Director of Wadebridge Cattle Market Ltd in 2010. Gerald has been a Member of the Board since 2002, having been appointed Deputy Chairman in April 2006 and subsequently Chairman in 2007. In April 2011 Gerald was appointed Senior Independent Director. He regularly plays a significant part in the rural community and is very involved in fund raising for local charities. Gerald, who is also Chair of the Trustees for Cornish Mutual’s pension fund, was formerly a Parish Councillor and School Governor for 14 years.
Graham Shearn
Having spent his whole career in the insurance industry, Graham Shearn was appointed to Cornish Mutual’s board in October 2010. He recently retired from Ecclesiastical where he held the post of Group Development Director. During his working life, he has served on a number of UK and overseas company boards within Ecclesiastical and externally, including Mapfre Reinsurance Corporation (USA) and Global London Market Ltd. Graham, who is married with one son, has been a member of the CII Council and Management Committee and has chaired the CII Examiners Committee in the past. He also acted as President of The Insurance Charities for a time.
Jerry Davison
Having held a number of Managing Director and Financial Director positions, both in the UK and abroad, Jerry Davison brings extensive commercial, operational and IT experience and knowledge to the Cornish Mutual Board. He was appointed in May 2007 as Non-Executive Director. A Chartered Accountant with a law degree he currently runs his own consultancy near Exeter. He is a past President of the South West Society of Chartered Accountants, knows the region very well and holds a number of other non-executive board positions with companies across the South West. Jerry maintains a keen interest in all agricultural and rural issues affecting the West Country.
Jilly Greed
Farming and rural issues are at the heart of Jilly Greed’s life in the South West – she is a fourth generation beef and arable producer, farming a 500 acre family farm in Devon. She is a passionate and active campaigner for a sustainable beef industry in the region, as well as an NFU member, a British Cattle Breeders Association member, and sitting on the CLA Devon committee. She also co-founded 'Ladies in Beef' and the 'Great British Beef Week'. Jilly, who joined the Cornish Mutual Board in November 2005, has extensive business knowledge and experience of rural communities. Her Exeter-based company is also directly involved in the marketing and promotion of local producers and a range of farming and rural businesses.
Leslie Baker
Leslie Baker has spent his entire working life in Cornwall as an Insurance Broker and comes from a farming family. With over 45 years wide-ranging experience of the insurance industry under his belt, Leslie, who lives in St Austell, was co-opted to the Cornish Mutual Board in November 2008. He retired in 2007 having been a Partner in the Newquay-based business Walmsley Baker and Co and was latterly employed by the Towergate Group. Leslie has been a Cornish Mutual Member for a number of years and has a sound knowledge of issues affecting the rural community, as well as being past President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Truro.
Michael Grigg
Michael Grigg’s family has been involved in farming in Cornwall for many generations and Michael, himself, has been a Member of the Cornish Mutual Board since July 1992. He is an experienced beef, sheep and arable producer and runs a mixed farm with more than 1,000 acres in the Duchy. At the same time as being a farmer, with his roots firmly in the local community, Michael runs a well respected agricultural merchant and country store on the outskirts of St Austell. He has extensive knowledge of the issues which are currently facing both the rural and farming community in the South West.
Finance Director: Peter Beaumont
Peter Beaumont has a wealth of experience in the IT and financial services industries including insurance and banking. Peter took up the role of Finance Director with Cornish Mutual in January 2009, having relocated with his family to Cornwall. He joined the company from corporate finance specialists Close Asset Finance Ltd where he was Group Financial Controller. Peter has held various director level appointments covering both finance and operations. Having trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant within public practice, Peter has spent his career within commerce. With a track record of introducing change, he is committed to further developing and delivering a first-class service to all Cornish Mutual Members.
