NatWest appoints Rick Haythornthwaite as chair

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NatWest has appointed former Mastercard chair Rick Haythornthwaite as its new chair, capping off a period of leadership turmoil at the bank.

Haythornthwaite is set to join NatWest’s board in January before taking over in April when Sir Howard Davies’ term expires. A Treasury insider said Haythornthwaite was seen in UK government circles as “widely respected and experienced”. The appointment was first reported by Sky News. 

“I am inheriting a very different NatWest compared to my predecessor; one that is more customer-focused, financially resilient and well-positioned to maintain its recent strong performance,” Haythornthwaite said.

“I look forward to working with the board to build on the exceptional progress made, so we can continue to support the UK economy and deliver for our customers and stakeholders.”