MARK Sargeantson has stood down as chairman of the Ipswich Building Society after seven years in the role.

Warm tributes were paid to Mr Sargeantson at the society’s annual general meeting, at the end of which his 14-year stint as a director officially ended, by chief executive Paul Winter and non-executive director Derek Bowden.

In turn, Mr Sargeantson praised the values of the society and the commitment of its staff.

Mr Winter said: “Mark has been chairman throughout my time as chief executive and I would like to thank him personally for the help and support he has given me since April 2007. We wish him all the best and would like to thank him for everything that he has done for the society.”

Mr Bowden also thanked Mr Sargeantson for his service to the society, highlighting the increase in its assets during his time on the board.

Mr Sargeantson said the society had become an “outstanding regional mutual, which punches above its weight”

“I will greatly miss my involvement with the society and all the outstanding people working for it,” he added. “Since I first joined the board of directors, the society has grown enormously to become an outstanding organisation which has not forgotten its core values as a mutual building society, serving its members.”

Guest speaker at the meeting was Suffolk adventurer Adam Wooley who has cycled solo from London to Cape Town and, with three friends, rowed across the Atlantic.

All resolutions at the annual meeting were carried. Subject to election, Mr Sargeantson is due to be succeeded as chairman by Sarah Evans, a chartered accountant, who has been a non-executive director of the society since 2008.