17. Stephen Karle, West Bromwich Building Society

Not only does Stephen Karle run one of the most important financial services companies in the West
Midlands - the 158 year-old West Bromwich Building Society, one of the country's biggest mutually owned
mortgage lenders and savings providers - he is also at the forefront of attempts to rehabilitate
one of the country's most deprived boroughs.

He heads one of the most ethnically-diverse businesses in the region and is a determined champion
of financial and social inclusion based firmly on mutual principles.

Stephen is also on the board of RegenCo, which is concerned with the economic and environmental transformation of Sandwell and is also a voice within regional development agency Advantage West
Midlands.

A graduate in law from Keele University in Staffordshire, he joined the West Bromwich in 1995 as
secretary after a successful career as a solicitor with Birmingham law firm Lyon Clarke, now Challinors.

He became operations director in 2000 and was appointed to the West Bromwich board the same
year.

Last year, Stephen stepped into the shoes of the well-known and respected Andrew Messenger to
take over the role of chief executive.

In June this year he was able to announced record financial results for the tenth year running. Figures
showed that the West Brom's assets grew by 15.4 per cent to £8.3 billion, while gross lending in
the 12 months to March 31 rose to an all-time high of £2.5 billion.

Unlike banks, which have shareholders to satsify, socially-minded building societies can share its
profits for the local community, and the West Brom is no exception. It donates millions of pounds a year
to good causes.

As head of the country's ninth largest society, Stephen Karle is a powerful and persuasive defender
of mutuality and social responsibility