Alison Rose appointed RBS chief, first female leader of major UK bank
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) has announced the appointment of Alison Rose as executive director and chief executive officer (CEO).
Rose is set to be the first woman to head up one of the UK’s leading banks. She will take up her new position on 1 November.
Rose has spent 27 years at the group, and previously held the roles of deputy CEO of NatWest Holdings and CEO of commercial and private banking. RBS CEO Ross McEwan will formally step down on 31 October.
Rose will take up her new position on 1 November
Rose will also be appointed as executive director and CEO on the boards of NatWest Holdings, The Royal Bank of Scotland, National Westminster Bank, and Ulster Bank.
She will be expected to steer RBS back to full private ownership, as part of a government project to reduce the 62% stake that UK taxpayers have in the bank by 2024.
“It is a huge honour to have been appointed as the new CEO of RBS and I am looking forward to getting started,” says Rose. “As one of the oldest and most important financial institutions in the UK, we have a key role to play in supporting the economy and championing the potential that exists across the country.
“This is an exciting time as we enter a new chapter for this bank. Our industry is facing a series of challenges; from the ongoing economic and political uncertainty to shifts in the behaviour and expectations of our customers, driven by rapid advances in technology.
“It will be my priority to make sure we are ready to meet these challenges and build the best bank for families, businesses and communities. We will be driven with real purpose in our work to help achieve the goals and potential of our customers and be there for them at key moments in their lives.”
RBS had been looking for a replacement for McEwan since he announced his intention to step down in April.
