Celebrating the legacy of MD Patricia Alexander.
As Shared Interest marks its 35th anniversary, the organisation prepares to bid farewell to Managing Director Patricia Alexander, who will retire later this year after nearly two decades of transformational leadership.
Since joining in 2006, Patricia has helped expand Shared Interest’s global impact, strengthen ethical investment, and support thousands of farmers and artisans in developing countries. With an MBA from Durham University she brought a strong blend of strategic insight and purpose-driven leadership.
Prior to joining Shared Interest, Patricia held a senior role at Saint-Gobain Quartz Group. However, her desire to create social impact led her towards ethical finance. “When the opportunity came up, I knew it was the right move. It was a chance to use my experience to make a real difference,” she said.
At that time, Shared Interest had just 15 staff and slower decision-making processes. Today, thanks to improved governance, financial oversight, and digital transformation, the organisation operates more efficiently while staying true to its core values.
Shared Interest’s model is unique: supported by its members, it provides loans to farmers, artisan groups, and fair trade buyers in communities facing challenges such as climate change, corruption, conflict, and economic instability. These loans enable access to working capital, order prefinancing, and essential equipment- offering people the chance to build sustainable livelihoods. Once repaid, the funds are reinvested into other communities in need.
Under Patricia’s leadership, Shared Interest opened regional offices in Kenya, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ghana, broadening its reach and deepening relationships with producer groups. Membership increased from 8,402 in 2006 to 11,800 today, and share capital more than doubledfrom £20 million to £52 million. Lending also rose significantly, with 82% of capital currently in use.
Patricia’s time at Shared Interest has not been without its challenges. She led the organisation through the 2007 financial crash, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic. “The crash forced us to rethink our model – making lending income our main revenue stream. Brexit weakened the pound overnight, reducing our lending capacity. But careful financial management helped us stay on course. During COVID-19, we moved online within days and became the only social lender to introduce virtual due diligence, allowing us to continue lending when others paused. That adaptability kept us strong.”
Patricia also played a key role in growing the Shared Interest Foundation – the organisation’s charitable arm – providing training and capacity-building to help producers thrive. Under her leadership to date, the Foundation has delivered 51 projects across 15 countries, reaching over 13,000 individuals.
Witnessing the impact first hand has been one of her greatest career highlights. “In Rwanda, I met widows who had lost everything in the genocide. With our support, they rebuilt businesses, fed their families, and sent their children to school. In Kenya, a group of Maasai women turned their beadwork into a business, brought electricity to their village, and funded their daughters’ education. Some even returned to education themselves.”
She believes that access to finance is powerful, but must be paired with the right support. “People don’t want handouts. They want the dignity of providing for themselves. That’s what makes Shared Interest so special.”
Patricia credits Shared Interest’s strength to its members and team. “Our members put their money where their values are. Their patience and commitment have been vital to everything we’ve achieved.”
As Patricia prepares to step down, the future looks bright. Kerrey Baker – who has been with Shared Interest for 14 years – will take on the role of MD. With a background in marketing, finance, and the non-profit sector, she shares the organisation’s deep commitment to empowering communities.
Patricia’s legacy is one of resilience, compassion, and lasting impact – shaping Shared Interest into a trusted force for ethical finance.
To find out how you can support Shared Interest by investing in a fairer world, visit: www.shared-interest.com