Julian began his career with KPMG where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1999 where he worked across a broad range of sectors in audit, consulting and advisory roles. He moved into industry in 2014 and held the position of Chief Financial Officer at a prominent regional residential developer before joining Northern Bear in May 2025. He brings significant experience in the construction, contracting and housebuilding sectors.
Josh joined Isoler in 2014 to complete an apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying and was appointed as Contracts Director in 2019. Appointed Joint Managing Director of Isoler in April 2024.
Keith has over 30 years’ of experience in the roofing industry and heads up the Northern Bear Roofing division after fifteen years as Managing Director of Springs Roofing.
Joining the organisation in 2005, Matty was appointed Contracts Director in 2008 and then Managing Director in 2021.
Appointed managing director of Northern Bear Safety Ltd in November 2009. Jason joined Northern Bear plc in 2008 as group safety manager and was instrumental in establishing Northern Bear Safety as a stand alone consultancy.
Michael qualified as a Quantity Surveyor in 2006 while working for a large North East contractor. He quickly worked his way to Commercial Manager and Commercial Director for Regional and National organisations before joining Arcas Building Solutions Ltd in January 2024.
Appointed managing director in 2020 bringing 40 years of experience with him to the company. Phil is a well-known figure in the North East with a vast knowledge of the construction industry.
Steven joined Wensley Roofing in 2007. He was appointed Joint Managing Director in 2018 and took sole charge in 2020.
Joined the business in 1998 as a qualified electrician. Nigel was appointed as a director in 2011 and as joint managing director in 2014. He became the sole managing director when the company joined the Northern Bear group in 2020.
Appointed managing director of Jennings Roofing Ltd in 2018 after Graham Jennings stepped down to concentrate on the management of Northern Bear plc. Martin has worked at the company since 1992.
Having spent the last thirty years handling a wide range of construction projects and successfully collaborating with key blue-chip clients, Jason was appointed as Managing Director of Peels Ltd in May 2024, continuing to lead the company’s commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
Jason joined the company in early 2024, bringing over 35 years of experience with tier one and regional contractors. A skilled estimator, he has led teams delivering projects worth up to £60m across various sectors, including complex new builds and refurbishments. Passionate about partnerships and client relationships, Jason thrives in negotiation and ensuring exceptional service that exceeds client expectations.
Joined Alcor Handling Solutions Limited in 2018 following a successful career in sales including over 20 years selling fork lift trucks.
Keith has over 30 years’ of experience in the roofing industry and heads up the Northern Bear Roofing division after fifteen years as Managing Director of Springs Roofing.
Appointed Interim Managing Director of Arcas Building Solutions in 2023 bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company. John has held major positions in two large construction businesses in the North East where he was the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director. Following the retirement of Keith Soulsby, John was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Northern Bear plc in April 2024.
Steve Roberts qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1991 and has worked in corporate finance since 1992. He joined McInnes Corporate Finance as a partner in 1996 and acted as lead advisor on many small cap transactions.
Steve has been a director of Northern Bear from flotation; he was appointed Finance Director in October 2009 and stepped up to the role of Executive Chairman in February 2014. His extensive experience with the Company makes him an ideal candidate for the position and the right person to guide the Board in delivering its strategy going forward.
Anil is Founder and CEO of Node, a global, vertically integrated asset manager that creates urban apartments, micro and co-living residences in creative capital cities around the world. Node’s mission is to create the next generation of lifestyle apartment living with affordable, design-led and community focused residences that meet the growing needs of urban renters.
Anil is responsible for the overall management, investment activities and expansion of Node globally and is based in both London and Toronto. Anil has worked in real estate for nearly 20 years in the US and Europe, including 11 years at Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity real estate firm. As a Managing Director at Blackstone in London, Anil was involved in over $30 billion of acquisitions, financings, and dispositions. Anil created Blackstone’s European real estate capital markets group, was involved in creating its Indian real estate team and helped create and successfully sell Nido Student Living, a £415m, 2,500 bed, European student housing development and management platform. Prior to Blackstone, Anil worked in the acquisitions team of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners / Credit Suisse First Boston in Los Angeles.
Anil graduated with an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and a BA from the University of Waterloo in Canada. He has been listed in Property Week’s Hot 100 and Top 40 Under 40. Anil is the Chair of the GRI Global Co-Living Committee and is a member of ULI and the UKAA. Anil also serves as Chair of The Lighthouse, a project to develop a dynamic faith-based community centre in London, England.
Keith Soulsby has been closely involved with the operation of Northern Bear ever since the company he founded, Wensley Roofing Ltd, became part of the group in 2006. Keith has served continuously on the board since 2007, apart from a short break in 2011-12. Keith set up Wensley Roofing in 1987, building on his experience with the Marley Roof Tile Company and a major roofing contracting business.
He has also served on the regional committee of the North East branch of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. On 1 June 2020, following a carefully planned succession, Keith stood down from Wensley Roofing to concentrate on being Operations Director of Northern Bear.
Tom Hayes qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen in 2001 and subsequently spent several years working in corporate finance with Ernst & Young on a wide variety of corporate and private equity transactions.
He has been involved with the Group since January 2008 in both divisional and group finance roles and was appointed Finance Director in February 2014. Tom’s broad range of experience in industry and corporate finance gives him an appropriate skill set to manage the Group’s strategic and operational finance matters.
Harry Samuel has spent over 20 years across various leadership roles within Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). This included roles as Global Head of Funding and Liquidity Asset Management, Foreign Exchange and Commodities, and Fixed Income and Currencies, before becoming CEO of RBC Capital Markets Europe in 2011 and subsequently CEO of RBC Investor & Treasury Services and Chair of RBC’s European Executive Committee from 2013 to 2019.
Harry currently serves as CEO of Affordable Housing Communities Limited and Managing Director of Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group Limited, a leading UK developer, constructor and operator of shared ownership communities working in partnership with local authorities, NHS Trusts and institutional investors to create socially impactful developments.
Martin Boden is a Chartered Accountant with considerable experience in high growth businesses. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he worked for FTSE 100 companies including WH Smith Group, NatWest Group and then Great Universal Stores where he was Group Financial Controller, primarily Manchester based. Martin has worked as Group CFO with both AIM and FTSE 250 listed companies as well as Private Equity owned organisations, having most recently been Group CFO at Small World Financial Services Group Limited.
Martin’s AIM listed experience was initially with Genus plc, a global animal genetics business that moved up to the FTSE 250, and most recently with Westminster Group plc, a global aviation security services business. Martin has been an executive main board member of businesses since 2007 and has previously worked with JDR Cable Systems Limited who are based in Hartlepool and with Bettys & Taylors who are based in Harrogate.
Howard Gold was appointed as Life President in recognition of his enormous contribution to the survival and growth of Northern Bear plc. He joined the Board in 2007 and was appointed Non-Executive Chairman in 2008. Howard guided the Group through difficult circumstances during his time as Chairman, including a severe recession and a major restructuring. He stood down as Chairman in 2014 but remained on the Board until 2020.
With a wealth of business experience and extensive legal knowledge, Howard continues to provide support and guidance to the Group and to Mincoffs Solicitors LLP where he practiced for 50 years.