Nottingham Building Society has appointed Riaan Thiart as its new chief internal audit officer, transitioning from his interim role that began in March 2025. Thiart steps into the position following Sally Gaudion’s move to chief customer officer.
In his new role, Thiart will provide independent assurance to the board and executive team, strengthening the Society’s governance, risk management, and internal controls as a critical third line of defense. With over 28 years of experience in financial services, Thiart has held senior roles at major organizations, including Nationwide Building Society, Old Mutual PLC, and Nedbank Group in South Africa.
His career highlights include serving as interim group internal audit director at Old Mutual, chief internal auditor for the Skandia Group across the Nordics, Europe, and Latin America, and managing director of Prelude Business Solutions Ltd.
ALSO READ: PETE GARDNER STEERS MINING FIRM TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ACCRA, GHANA
Sue Hayes, chief executive officer at Nottingham Building Society, praised Thiart’s contributions during his interim tenure. “Riaan has already made a significant impact, offering valuable insight and assurance during a transformative period for our Society,” she said. “His extensive international experience and pragmatic approach will be crucial as we enhance our governance and risk frameworks. I’m thrilled to welcome him permanently to our leadership team.”
Thiart expressed enthusiasm for his permanent role, stating, “I am proud to join Nottingham Building Society full-time. The Society’s purpose-led culture and ambitious vision resonate with me, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, the executive, and the board to ensure our internal audit function continues to deliver value and support our members.”
