Our Board

Our Board is currently made up of three non-executive directors and Christopher Welford, our Chief Executive. Our Board sets the strategic direction of the company and our objectives each year.

You can read the approved minutes of Entrust Board meetings here.

You can find details for Entrust Staff on the people tab of our contact us page.

Board members

Antony Townsend (Chair)  

Antony Townsend has extensive experience as a Chief Executive and non-executive director in organisations regulating financial and professional services, and as a charitable trustee. He currently chairs the Pensions Regulator’s Determinations Panel, as well as being Chair of the Channel Islands Financial Ombudsman Service. In addition, he undertakes work for the House of Commons, the NHS, and the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service.

Antony has devoted much of his career to public service, and has worked extensively with Governments and other public and private stakeholders on issues of corporate governance and risk management, skills which he brings to the Entrust Board.

Antony was appointed Chair of Entrust in December 2022.

 
Mr Gerry McCormack  

Gerry has a broad business experience at Board level in both the private and public sector. His early professional background was as an audit practitioner and throughout his plc career as Group Finance Director he had direct involvement at Executive level with the Audit committee.

Much of Gerry’s professional life has centred on regulatory processes among which include The London Stock Exchange, the Regulator of Social Housing and the Education Skills Funding Agency for the Department for Education. Gerry chairs the Audit Committee of Moat Homes which he joined as a non-Executive Director in 2015. He is also Deputy Chair of Governors of Farnborough Hill school where he joined the Board in December 2016. 

Gerry is Chair of Entrust's Audit Committee.

 
Mr Julian Atkins  

Julian is an experienced Non-Executive Director having held Board posts in a number of sectors. He is currently deputy chair of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and board chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce's subsidiary training company. He is also a past president of the London Institute of Banking and Finance for Coventry and Warwickshire.

Julian's executive career was in financial services. He was part of the Executive leadership team and led the HR function at Coventry Building Society, where he worked for nearly 25 years. His early career was spent with the Thomas Cook Group and Marks and Spencer plc.

Julian is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Fellow of the London Institute of Banking and Finance.

Julian is passionate about developing high performing teams and delivering excellent customer service.

Julian is Chair of Entrust's Human Resources and Remuneration Committee.

 
Mr Christopher Welford  

Christopher Welford has been Entrust's Chief Executive since June 2006. Prior to his appointment he was the Director of Registrations and Compliance at the Electoral Commission and helped to set up and establish that organisation. He has worked in the Regulatory Sector for over twenty years and has extensive practical experience and knowledge of the strategic implementation of best regulatory practice.   

During his career he has worked in a number of public and private sector organisations in a range of different and complex roles including project construction, finance and senior management leadership roles.

As well as his executive roles, Christopher has undertaken a number of non-executive ones.