Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Embark CEO Jackie Leiper as chair of its Scottish Executive Committee which works with politicians, business leaders and community networks.

With more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Ms Leiper succeeds Philip Grant, who retired from Lloyds Banking Group at the end of 2022 after 40 years’ service.

Ms Leiper has headed Dundee-based retirement solutions provider Embark Group since January 2022 following its acquisition by Lloyds Banking Group.

Since joining Lloyds in 2010, she has specialised in pensions and investments, currently leading the Scottish Widows pensions and Halifax Share Dealing businesses alongside her Embark responsibilities. She is also a board member at the Bank of Scotland Foundation which supports charities across Scotland.

Ms Leiper said: “Scotland has so much to offer in terms of its people, culture, and businesses, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to say ‘yes’ when I was asked to take over from Philip.

“I’ve worked with the group for many years, have a strong passion for Scotland and can’t wait to get stuck in and help people become more financially aware.”

Tesco Bank chair

Jacqui Ferguson has been appointed interim chair of the Tesco Bank board with immediate effect. She replaces Sir John Kingman who has stepped down ahead of his appointment to the board of Barclays and as chair of Barclays Bank UK on 1 June.    

An experienced portfolio non-executive director, chair and former CEO from the technology industry with over 30 years’ experience, Ms Ferguson is a former CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services UK & MEA, a business serving large corporate and mid-sized companies with transformational digital, technology and business process solutions.

She joined the Tesco Bank board in April 2018 and has served as Tesco Bank’s senior independent non-executive director since September 2021. Shew will be replaced in this role on an interim basis by Robert Endersby.

Tesco Bank has begun a search process for a permanent chair.

Barclays board

Mike Ashley and Crawford Gillies will each have completed nine years as non-executive directors of Barclays by the time of the Barclays annual general meeting in May.

Mr Ashley will be retiring from Barclays at the conclusion of the AGM, and Mr Gillies will leave on 31 May.

Having joined the board in 2013 and 2014 respectively, Mr Ashley and Mr Gilies have supported Barclays through a period of significant change, both for the group and for the industry.