Executive Moves:
Senior Appointments in Financial Services
Welcome to our C-Suite and Executive movements insights across Financial Services from April to June 2025.
These moves over the past three months have highlighted the evolving leadership landscape within organisations across the financial services sector. The leadership transitions captured here include a dynamic mix of internal promotions, external appointments, and interim-to-permanent movements. This variety highlights how companies are striking a balance between continuity and fresh perspectives as they navigate complex challenges and opportunities.
We have included moves within:
- People & Culture/ HR
- Reward
- Digital, Technology & Transformation
- CEO & Board
- Finance
People & Culture / HR
- Kirk Southern: Became Permanent Group Chief People Officer at Howden, previously Interim Chief People Officer at the same company.
- Margot King: Joined PWC as Head of People and HR Transformation, previously Chief Human Resources Officer EMEA at MUFG.
- Sarah Mantle-Gray: Promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer at RSA, previously Director of Total Talent at the same company.
- Elli Michaelides: Appointed Chief People Officer at Vanquis, previously People Director at the same company.
- Rupert Hudspith: Took on the role of Interim Global Head of HR at Foster & Partners, previously worked in Interim HR Consultancy.
- Sharon Kardam: Became Talent Acquisition Strategy & Transformation Consultant at Foster & Partners, previously Strategy & Transformation Leader at HSBC.
- Catherine McVey: Appointed Chief People Officer at Progency, previously held the same role at Ascot Lloyd.
- Rachel Street: Joined Lawfront as Chief People Officer, previously Chief People Officer at RPC.
- Lucy Thackeray: Moved to Barclays as Director, Group HRD, previously Director, Group Head of Executive Resourcing at HSBC.
- Tara Johnson: Became Chief People Officer at HG Capital, previously Head of Business Partners at the same company.
- Sarah Allen: Took on the role of Director of Talent & Learning at Deloitte, previously Director of Learning at Aviva.
- Martin Cofe: Names as Senior Director, Human Resources at Vitruvian Partners following a move from Actis as Managing Director, Human Resources.
Reward
- Esther Junaid: Joined ClearBank as Head of Reward, previously Principal, Reward at Peel Hunt.
- Stephan Groh: Became Managing Director, Reward at CVC, previously Head of Investment Compensation at Invesco.
- Chris Browne: Appointed Head of Reward at CFC, previously Head of Reward and Global HR Operations at Low Carbon.
- Claire Livesey: Stepped into Interim CPO role at Metro Bank, previously Director of Performance & Reward at the same company.
Digital, Technology & Transformation
- Debra Bailey: Stepped into the Chief Information Officer role at One Savings Bank, previously Chief Information Officer at Royal Mail.
- Ceri Stokoe: Appointed Chief Operating Officer at Tokio Marine, previously Chief Information Officer Europe at QBE Insurance.
- Yogesh Patel: Became Chief Operating Officer at Hampshire Trust Bank, previously Managing Director – Head of Transformation at Coutts.
- Femi Bamisaiye: Took on the Chief Operations & Technology Officer role at Nest Pensions, previously Chief Information Officer at Aviva UK General Insurance.
- Lyn Grobler: Joined St James’s Place as Chief Information Officer, previously Chief Information Officer at Howden Group.
- Kirsty Kelly: Moved into Group Chief Information Security Officer role at CFC Underwriting, previously held the same position at Beazley.
- Darren Coomer: Became Chief Information Officer at Tesco Insurance, previously Founder of Strategy & Architecture Group.
- Akhil Lalwani: Appointed Chief Data Officer at Allianz UK, previously Chief Data Officer at Convex Insurance.
- Norma Dove-Edwin: Appointed Director of Strategy for Tech, Digital and Data at Legal & General, previously Interim Chief Information Officer at Rolls-Royce.
CEO & Board
- Vicki Wharton: Took on Customer Operations Director role at Royal London, previously Director of Customer Excellence at Aldermore Bank.
- Andrea Melville: Named Chief Executive Officer at Cooperative Bank, previously Chief Executive Officer at Cater Allen Private Bank.
- Tovah Grosscurth: Promoted to Managing Director – Commercial Lines at Intact Insurance, previously Director of E-Trading at the same company.
- Jazz Gakhal: Took on Chief Executive Officer of Money role at Skipton Building Society, previously Managing Director at Direct Line for Business.
- Katie Worgan: Appointed Chief Operating Officer at Legal & General, previously Chief Operating Officer at Lloyds Banking Group
Finance
- Sameera Khaliq: Appointed Director of Financial Strategy & Business Partnering at Skipton Building Society, previously Chief Financial Officer at DF Capital.
- Stuart Bruce Logue: Stepped into Interim Chief Executive Officer role at Flood Re, previously Chief Financial Officer at Asta Managing Agency.
- Stephen Pond: Named Chief Financial Officer for UK & Ireland General Insurance at Aviva, previously Chief Financial Officer at Direct Line Insurance Group.
- Michael Evans: Became Chief Financial Officer at Octopus Electric Vehicles, previously Interim Chief Financial Officer at Foundation Home Loans.
- Stefano Combi: Taken on the role of Chief Financial Officer at Cynergy Bank, following a period as Interim Chief Financial Officer since July 2024.
- Rakesh Thakrah: Named Chief Financial Officer of Athora group after a stint as interim Chief Financial Officer. Rakesh was previously Chief Financial Officer of Phoenix
- Alexandra Cliff: Appointed Chief Financial Officer of Lloyds of London after moving up from Deputy Chief Financial Officer to succeed Burkhard Keese.
- Siobhan Boylan: Named as Group Chief Financial Officer at abrdn, effective summer 2025 following her departure from Coutts & Co where she currently serves as Chief Financial Officer.
- Pam Kaur: Promoted to Chief Financial Officer at HSBC, stepping up from within the organisation to replace Interim Chief Financial Officer Jon Bingham.
