Newcastle-based ethical finance leader, Shared Interest Society, has announced the appointment of Kerrey Baker as its new Managing Director.
The announcement comes as Shared Interest Society celebrates its 35th anniversary, receives its fourth King’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category, and marks the retirement of outgoing Managing Director, Patricia Alexander.
Kerrey, who first joined Shared Interest in 2010, has spent the past 14 years leading on member engagement within Shared Interest, which pools more than £50.9 million in UK member investments to finance fair trade enterprises across 47 countries. Kerrey has also worked extensively at Shared Interest’s charitable subsidiary, the Shared Interest Foundation. Her appointment signals a renewed focus on connection, strategic growth, and impact.
“Kerrey brings deep knowledge of our mission and a strong commitment to the values that define Shared Interest,” said Patricia Alexander, outgoing Managing Director. “She has been a driving force behind our close relationship with members and will lead the Society with purpose, insight, and care.”
A specialist in ethical finance and stakeholder engagement, Kerrey has helped shape the organisation’s identity as a people-powered lender committed to building a fairer world through trade. She now steps into the role at a pivotal moment with plans to lead a strategic review involving members, producers, staff, and partners, setting out Shared Interest Society’s vision for the next five years.
Kerrey said: “This is an exciting time to lead Shared Interest. We are listening closely to the people we serve – especially around climate resilience and gender equality – and looking at how we grow our reach while staying true to our values.”
Her vision includes strengthening ties between Shared Interest Society and the Shared Interest Foundation, to offer a more unified supporter experience. “Whether someone starts their journey as a donor or investor, we want them to feel part of the same movement for positive change,” she said.
The announcement follows the Society’s latest royal recognition. Shared Interest has this year been awarded the 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development – a unique achievement in the financial sector – honouring its impact-led model, which supports over 416,000 people globally, including more than 156,000 women.
“Membership growth is more challenging in the current economic climate,” Baker acknowledged. “But our members are different. They’re making a values-based choice. If every one of our 11,800 members inspired just one more person to join, we could double our reach.”
With a strong legacy and a clear path ahead, Shared Interest is combining longterm commitment with bold ambition to grow the global movement for ethical finance.
www.shared-interest.com