The 2018 Co-op Group AGM takes place on 19 May 2018, and will invite eligible members to vote on a range of motions. You can read our summary of those motions here.
Members will also be asked to vote in Co-op Group elections. This year, two board places and 36 National Members’ Council places are up for election.
Board elections
This year there are four candidates for two member nominated director (MND) positions. MNDs are chosen directly by members and, like the executive directors and the independent non-executive directors, are part of the board. Currently, MNDs are appointed for two years, but one of the AGM motions is asking for a rule change to appoint MNDs for three years instead.
The four candidates are:
Pernilla Bonde, the CEO of HSB, Sweden’s largest housing co-operative. She wants to use her expertise gained at “an innovative, growing and successful co-op … to bring an international dimension to the Board”.
Hazel Blears, a current member-nominated director standing for re-election, who says she has “kept co-op values central to [the Group’s] turnaround.
Margaret Casely-Hayford, also a current member-nominated director standing for re-election. “As a current Co-op MND and former Legal Director of John Lewis Partnership, I know that ethics and commercial success are complementary,” she says.
Monica Burch, chair of Mentoring Foundation, and a non-executive director of the Crown Prosecution Service and Talbot Underwriting Ltd: “Consolidation has succeeded. [It’s] time to further grow ethically, sustainably and profitably with strong governance”.
National Members’ Council
The Group’s Members’ Council is made up of 100 elected member representatives, including representatives from independant co-operative societies and people chosen to reflect the organisation’s diversity and inclusion principles.
This year, there are 157 members standing for 36 vacancies across 13 regions.
Cymru (Wales): 16 candidates standing for 2 vacancies
East of England: 4 candidates standing for 1 vacancy
East Midlands: 9 candidates standing for 4 vacancies
Isle of Man: 4 candidates standing for 1 vacancy
London: 12 candidates standing for 3 vacancies
North East: 5 candidates standing for 1 vacancy
Northern Ireland: 2 candidates standing for 1 vacancy
North West: 23 candidates standing for 3 vacancies
Scotland: 12 candidates standing for 4 vacancies
South East: 19 candidates standing for 3 vacancies
South West: 15 candidates standing for 3 vacancies
West Midlands: 9 candidates standing for 1 vacancy
Yorkshire and the Humber: 19 candidates standing for 2 vacancies
Independent Society Members: 8 candidates standing for the 7 Independent Society member vacancies
- For more about the Co-op Group AGM, to check your eligibility to vote and register for the event, click here.
