Karen Walker
CEO
Karen joined IPSA in August 2020 and became the CEO in September 2025. She has spent 30+ years in the customer services industry, gaining a wealth of experience spanning financial services, utilities and telecoms at brands such as telephone and online bank First Direct, Centrica and Virgin Media.
She has a background in operational and change leadership, culture change, regulation, credit management and customer service excellence and is renowned for developing purposeful customer-centric cultures to drive advocacy and great customer outcomes, breaking down barriers to service excellence and customer retention.
Yorkshire born and bred, Karen is also a non-executive director at the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where she is translating her keen interest and experience in people and customers into helping the Trust achieve great patient outcomes and service excellence.
Interests and gifts and hospitality declaration
| Type | Details |
| Name | Karen Walker |
| Financial interests* | None |
| Directorships and shareholdings** | None |
| Investment property*** | None |
| Sponsorships | None |
| Public appointments | Non-Executive Director, Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust; Chair, West Yorkshire Cancer Alliance Patient Experience and Strategy Group |
| Charities and non-public organisations | None |
| Any other relevant interests | Strategic Advisor, Gallop Executive Recruitment |
| Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member | None |
| Gifts and hospitality received | None |
| Date | 3 November 2025 |
I, Karen Walker, confirm that the information that I have given is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and complete. I confirm that I understand the purpose of the form and the reasons for the collection of my personal data and that I agree to my personal data being used as stated.
| Note | Information |
| * | This includes interests held by a board member that are directly relevant to his/her position within IPSA. It is not a list of all financial interests including all investments or loans held by a board member. It indicates where financial interests are held in a blind trust held independently from the owner so that a board member is shielded from involvement in their management. |
| ** | Shareholdings are not listed where they are de minimis in nature. |
| *** | In line with the Registers of Interest in the Houses of Parliament, property owned and/or occupied by board members for their own use is not included in the list. |