Starling Bank has announced the appointment of Raman Bhatia as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. Bhatia will succeed John Mountain, who has been serving as interim CEO since the decision of the bank’s founder, Anne Boden, to step back from the role last year.
Currently serving as the Chief Executive of OVO, a prominent technology-driven energy retailer in the UK, Bhatia brings a wealth of experience in consumer tech and fintech to his new role. Prior to leading OVO, he held the position of Head of Digital Bank for HSBC’s Retail Banking and Wealth Management business in the UK and Europe, along with being a member of its Executive Committee. His responsibilities included overseeing HSBC, First Direct, and M&S Bank.
With a strong background in navigating regulated businesses and entrepreneurial challengers, coupled with his experience at OVO in leading a digitally driven disruptor brand through significant change, Bhatia is well-positioned to lead Starling Bank into its next phase of growth.
Bhatia holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and serves as a Trustee of Business in the Community. His appointment is pending formal approval by regulators, and he is expected to assume his new role at Starling Bank in early summer.
David Sproul, Chair of Starling Bank, expressed confidence in Bhatia’s leadership, citing significant opportunities for the bank’s growth in the UK market and internationally through its Engine by Starling Software-as-a-Service business. He also thanked John Mountain for his leadership during the interim period.
Anne Boden, Founder of Starling Bank, welcomed Bhatia’s appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to uphold the company’s culture and values while driving growth.
In his response, Raman Bhatia expressed his honor at being appointed as Starling Bank’s Group CEO, emphasizing his admiration for the company’s commitment to leveraging technology for the benefit of customers and employees. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with the team and achieve further success for Starling Bank.
With Bhatia’s appointment, Starling Bank looks forward to a new phase of growth and innovation under his leadership.
