Spotlight Series #7 - Jason Wright

Last week we spoke to Jason Wright, Director of Secretariat at Nationwide Building Society who is a winner in the 'Team Leader' category of the Governance HOT 100. Here's what he had to say about his career and what it means to him to be featured in the HOT 100.

How did you become a company secretary/governance professional?

I graduated with an LLB in Business Law and joined a small legal team (2 of us!) in a listed high street fashion retailer. The CFO mentioned the ICSA one day and suggested I take the exams. I started them and through night school, met lots of trainee company secretaries. It opened my eyes to a whole new career path. From there I joined a large global listed FS firm and was exposed to the full secretariat experience in a large team. My boss was incredibly supportive and put me forward for a lot of stretch roles and I gained exposure to significant transactions and looked after some important boards and committees. I found I really enjoyed being involved with the key decision making processes of organisations and the chance to deal with senior stakeholders. I’ve not really looked back or considered anything else since.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the profession?

I don’t really see challenges so much as opportunities. There is clearly a shift from the more compliance, administrative nature of the role, which is still important, to the more governance advisory role. One of the opportunities this creates is the need to embrace technology to be more efficient on the administration end to free up time and head space to take on the advisory role. Similarly, there is so much new regulation, codes and guidance that focus on corporate governance and this can swamp us unless we automate to reduce risks and help with efficiency. I can see a time when the profession will have to start thinking about embracing technology skills in a way that has not happened to date. This could mean partnering with bespoke firms or developing the skill within secretariat teams.

What does winning in your category mean to you?

It means an awful lot to be recognised by peers who understand the peculiar responsibilities and pressures company secretaries have. I was also very happy to be in the Team Leader category as I have always tried to invest in teams throughout my career. Winning has made me look back through my different roles and realise how many great teams I've been part of and what terrific team mates I have had along the way. It might sound clichéd, but without their support I wouldn’t have been recognised in this way. I also realised that I've had a lot of fun in the teams I've been in.

Is there anyone specific you would like to thank that has contributed to your career success?

There are quite a few but I would highlight, my first boss Emmie Dhanani who taught me the value of hard work and self-discipline, John Berg who must have seen a glimmer of hope and put me forward for some really challenging and exciting roles, Shaun Coles for our growing up together through some significant events and latterly, Claire Davies who has become a bit of a mentor. My family has been incredibly supportive, although they still don’t really know what I do! 

Governance HOT 100 - who will you nominate in 2021?