Deanna is an experienced global corporate board leader. After a career in financial services as a turnaround executive known for her ability to transform entrenched institutions into forward thinking, customer-centric champions, she brought that experience into boardrooms in North America, the UK and continental Europe. Her passion and belief in the power of diversity around a boardroom table spurred her to start BoardReady.io in 2017, a non-profit that accelerates the diversification of governing boards in the US via a proprietary digital platform delivered through seasoned board directors.
Deanna is currently serving in the UK as Chair-designate for FTSE 100 IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown, a FTSE-100 financial services company. In North America, she is a non-executive director at Thomson Reuters, jointly listed on both the Canadian and New York Stock Exchanges, and for the private Seattle company, Slalom, a digital transformation consultancy. Other company boards upon which Deanna has served in the past include Tesco plc and Tesco Bank, Whitbread plc, Worldpay plc, AXA Global, Brooks Running, Vettd, NCR, Catellus, UNICO, Plum Creek Timber and Joshua Green Corporation.
Deanna founded CameoWorks in 2005 which advised entrepreneurs in the areas of transformation, growth through scale techniques, and stakeholder management. The firm is not active currently as Deanna is focusing her professional commitments on board work.
Previously, Deanna worked at Barclays, starting as chief operating officer of the UK business before becoming CEO of UK and Western Europe Retail Banking. Her final role was Vice Chair, Global Retail Banking. Deanna’s clear customer-focused strategies led to Barclays’ #1 ranking among high street banks in customer satisfaction and 92% employee engagement. Her relentless focus helped achieve double-digit growth in annual financial results in the UK and to stabilize Barclays’ Western Europe business during the euro crisis.
Before Barclays, Deanna was the President of Consumer Banking at Washington Mutual, Inc. During her tenure, Washington Mutual was named Best Retail Bank in the Americas by Lafferty International and Top 40 Store Concepts in the World by Retail Industry Leaders Association.
During the past 5 years, Deanna was presented the Lifetime Achievement award by the U.K. Inspiring Leadership Trust. She was also named Diversity Director of the Year by the Puget Sound Business Journal and shortlisted for FTSE 100 Director of the Year. Previously, Deanna was inducted into the Junior Achievement/Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame and was voted Puget Sound Business Journal’s Women of Influence. Deanna is sought after as a mentor for high potential CEO’s and Chairs.
Deanna divides her time between London and Seattle, where she lives with her husband, John. They have two adult children and one grandchild. She graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound and she also attended the Executive Education program at the Kellogg School of Management. Deanna is past chair of trustees for Puget Sound and a recipient of the Ernest T. Stewart National Award for university volunteers.