Steve will join the bank in early 2019 from Shawbrook Bank where he held the position of CEO for almost three years.

He is currently serving a period of gardening leave which commenced on 27^th July and will terminate on 31^st December 2018.

Prior to that, Steve led the UK banking business of Santander and was responsible for building out the bank’s business and corporate banking activities.

Steve was recently appointed as a non-executive director at the Bank of Ireland and is vice-president of the Chartered Banker Institute and a member of council.

At Hodge Bank, Steve will take over from retiring managing director David Austin.

Steve said that he was delighted to be joining Hodge as it sought to build on the strong foundations in its retail and commercial banking and life assurance businesses.

“It has a unique ownership structure and ethos that is hugely attractive in terms of creating a sustainable business that then seeks to support those in the communities in which it operates.

“As a newcomer to the business, I am looking forward to learning more and to working with the team that has taken the group this far on its journey.”

Adrian Piper, chairman at Hodge Bank, added: “On behalf of the board, I extend our thanks and appreciation to David for his outstanding commitment and leadership over almost three decades.

“We wish him well in his upcoming retirement.

“We’re delighted to welcome Steve to Hodge and the board is very much [looking] forward to working with him.”