Career moves including RBS, NFU Mutual and Hiscox

RBS names its first female finance director

High street giant Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has appointed Katie Murray as its first female chief financial officer. Murray had been in the role on an interim basis since Ewen Stevenson stepped down to join rival HSBC. Murray joined RBS as director of finance in 2015 and previously held similar roles at Old Mutual and KPMG.

Commenting upon Murray’s appointment, RBS chairman Howard Davies said: “I am pleased to welcome Katie to the RBS board following a successful period as interim CFO. She has already contributed significantly to RBS over the last three years as the bank has resolved its last major legacy issues, returned to profit and restarted paying dividends.”

NFU Mutual appoints Richard Morley as finance director

UK-based insurance company NFU Mutual has appointed its acting finance director Richard Morley to a permanent role. Morley took up the role of acting finance director following the death of Kim Arif in April. Morley joined the insurer in 2011 as head of group finance and qualified as an accountant with Thames Water before holding various roles at Arval and the insurance division of Lloyds Banking Group where he was finance director of the bank’s international financial services business in 2007.

Commenting upon his appointment, Morley said: “I am delighted to have been appointed finance director and welcome the opportunity of working as part of the executive team and board in taking forward and developing our fantastic business, in particular working with colleagues throughout the organisation as we face into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Hiscox appoints Bob Thaker as new UK CEO

Global insurer Hiscox UK has brought on board Bob Thaker as its new chief executive officer. Thaker will take up office in 2019. He joined the firm in 2010 as head of strategy and has held various senior leadership roles. He was also the chief operating officer of DirectAsia and also served as CEO of the DirectAsia Group. Thaker will succeed Steve Langan, Hiscox USA’s CEO and will remain the group’s chief marketing officer. He will report to Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox Global Retail.

Commenting upon Bob Thaker’s appointment, Walter said: “Bob is a natural champion of the customer who will lead the UK team in its next phase of growth. We will benefit from Bob’s experience navigating intensely competitive markets and developing creative partnership opportunities.”

Ebiquity hires new CFO

Marketing and media consultancy Ebiquity has brought on board Alan Newman as its chief financial and operating officer and executive director of the board. Newman will replace Kevin McNair who served as interim chief financial officer. Newman served YouGov for 10 years as chief financial officer and is currently chair of the audit committee of publisher Future and deputy chair of the Quoted Companies Alliance.

He has also held partner roles at EY and KPMG. Speaking about Alan Newman’s appointment, group chief executive Michael Karg said: “Alan is an exceptional addition to Ebiquity’s executive team. He brings a vital combination of public company and media sector expertise as we continue our business transformation.”

Changes at UK Finance board

The board of banking and financial services association UK Finance has welcomed Charlotte Crosswell, CEO of fintech organisation Innovate Finance, and Mark Parsons, CEO of Coventry Building Society. Along with stepping down from his role of chief executive of Leeds Building Society, Peter Hill also stepped down from the UK Finance board and its mortgage product and services board. Hill previously served on the board of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Commenting upon her appointment, Charlotte Crosswell said: “I am excited to help UK Finance reflect on the role of fintech and the changing face of financial services, as the future will increasingly be dependent on the growth and interaction of these non-traditional areas.”

M&C Saatchi appoints Mickey Kalifa as new finance head

Advertising giant M&C Saatchi has recruited Mickey Kalifa as its new finance director. Kalifa will take up office on 14 January 2019 and he will join the board on 2 April 2019. He served online betting group Sportech as chief financial officer from 2008 to 2017. He will succeed James Hewitt who is standing down from his role. Hewitt will remain on board to ensure a smooth handover.

Allied Irish Banks promotes head of wholesale banking to CEO

Allied Irish Bank (AIB) has named its head of wholesale and institutional banking Colin Hunt as its chief executive. Hunt will succeed Bernard Byrne who is leaving the bank to take up a senior role at local stockbroker Davy Group. Hunt joined the bank in 2016 after holding senior leadership roles in Macquarie Capital, Goodbody Stockbrokers, Bank of Ireland and NatWest, as well as serving as a government advisor.

Commenting upon Hunt’s appointment, AIB chairman Richard Pym said: “We are delighted that the next proposed leader of AIB has emerged from within our own ranks. This proposed appointment also ensures continuity of the current successful strategy for the bank.”

Swiss Re appoints Mark Hodges as CEO Of ReAssure

Reinsurance giant Swiss Re has hired Mark Hodges, chief executive officer at Centrica Consumer division as the CEO of life and pensions group ReAssure. Hodges has over 20 years of experience and has held various senior leadership roles at major UK insurance companies. At Centrica he was instrumental in improving services offered to customers and reducing costs.

Prior to joining Centrica, Hodges was CEO of Towergate Partnership. Commenting upon Hodges’ appointment, Swiss Re Life Capital CEO Thierry Léger, says: “We are very pleased to have Mark Hodges as the new CEO for ReAssure. He combines strong leadership skills with deep industry knowledge. I am confident that he is the right person to lead ReAssure through the next stage of its development into an even more successful future.”

Oxley Group appoints Darren Cavan as chief executive officer

LED lighting specialist Oxley Group has brought on board Darren Cavan as its new chief executive officer. Cavan has been associated with Oxley Developments in the UK and Oxley in the US in the past. He has around 25 years of experience in the aerospace and military sector.

Commenting upon Cavan’s appointment, Oxley chairman Peter Bedwin said: “I very much welcome Darren’s appointment, in Darren we have a CEO who has an excellent technical understanding coupled with a valuable insight into the workings of the Group. Darren is well respected by our customers and well placed to lead the group in exploiting our technical expertise to grow our presence in the aerospace arena.”

CIPHR names Andrew Carwardine as new CEO

Software solution provider CIPHR has taken on board Andrew Carwardine as its CEO. Founder and existing CEO Chris Berry will become deputy chair and Carwardine will take up office in January 2019. Berry will now step back from daily responsibilities and look into the board level, becoming deputy chair and his role will include overseeing non-UK expansions.

Commenting upon Andrew Carwardine’s appointment, Berry said: “I have known and respected Andrew professionally for some time, and am delighted therefore that he is joining us. The skills and experience he will bring to CIPHR are exemplary and will increase the potential for us to continue to grow. He will be part of a great team.

The Exeter appoints new chief operating officer

Health and protection insurer The Exeter has taken on board Chris Pollard its new chief operating officer.  Pollard’s role includes accountability for operations, underwriting and claims as well as place on both the full and executive boards at firm. Prior to this role, Pollard has worked as a consultant with clients including EY, LV= and Prudential. He has also held roles such as chief underwriter at Bupa and head of underwriting claims and operations at Friends Life.

He will take up office in March 2019, subject to a regulatory approval. Speaking about Chris Pollard’s appointment, The Exeter chief executive Andy Chapman says: “Chris joins The Exeter at a really exciting time for the business and I look forward to welcoming him to our team. Chris has a wealth of experience within the protection industry and will play a pivotal role in helping the senior team further shape and grow the company.”

Nash appointed as Chief Operating Officer by Vapour Cloud

West Yorkshire-based digital transformation specialist, Vapour Cloud has appointed Andrew Nash as its new chief operating officer. Nash has previously served as Managing Director of unified data and voice communications firm SBL Group. Commenting upon Andrew Nash’s appointment, Vapour Cloud’s CEO Tim Mercer said: “We’re as much about people as we are about tech, and Andy’s skill-set fulfils both strands of our ethos perfectly.

Digital transformation has evolved from being a buzzword that few people understand, to a powerful source of value creation for businesses. With Andy’s help we’ll empower more clients and develop more people, as the next few years unfold.”

Boots snaps up Tesco’s Tracey Clements as new COO

UK-based pharmacy led health and beauty retailer, Boots UK has appointed Tracey Clements to be its chief operating officer. Clements will look after the UK and Republic of Ireland. Her role includes overseeing store operations and supply chain, as well as P&L for the business in Ireland. Clements currently serves as chief executive at Tesco and has been with the supermarket for the last 17 years.

Boots has also taken on board David Hobbs as its UK trading director. Commenting upon both the appointments, Boots UK and Ireland’s managing director, Seb James said: “I’d like to welcome Tracey and David to the team. I feel very lucky to be working with such a strong executive team as we build the next chapter for Boots.”

Bradford District Care Trust makes new appointment

The Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Patrick Scott as chief operating officer. Scott has held various senior leadership roles with extensive experience in the NHS sector both across hospital and community services. He currently serves as the director of operations at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) where he looks after strategic and operational responsibility for mental health and learning disability services across York and Selby. Scott began his career as a healthcare assistant following which he joined East Yorkshire Community Mental Health Trusts and Humber NHS Foundation Trust.

Speaking about his appointment, Patrick Scott said: “I’m really excited to be joining the Care Trust which has a good reputation for developing innovative and responsive services across all areas that have been recognised nationally. I know from discussions with the board and frontline staff that they have clear ambitions to build on this, working with partners to ensure that services continue to develop and meet communities’ needs. I’m looking forward to working with the executive team and staff to achieve this.”

New CEO in at housing group

North East housing and support provider Tyne Housing Group has appointed Steve McKinlay as its chief executive. McKinlay previously served Depaul UK as area director for the North. He has also been working on secondment at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as a specialist advisor on homelessness. McKinlay will take up office from January 2019 and replace interim chief executive Kevin Lowry.

Speaking about McKinlay’s appointment, Graham Brown, chairman of Tyne Group, added: “Over the last year we have reviewed our business objectives and have re-affirmed our commitment to our core clients. We will continue to support vulnerable, isolated people and will seek to expand the range of services and accommodation we are able to offer. We are delighted to have recruited a new chief executive of the calibre of Steve.”

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