Royal Bank Scotland Group PLC (LON:RBS) has confirmed it has picked Alison Rose to be its new chief executive, becoming the first major British lender to be led by a woman.
Rose, who has worked at RBS for 25 years, is currently deputy chief executive of Natwest and heads the group’s commercial and private banking division.
She will succeed Ross McEwan when he steps down at the end of October to join National Australia Bank, one of Australia’s biggest banks.
Her appointment was widely expected with rumours surfacing in April before McEwan resigned.
"I am delighted that we have appointed Alison as our new CEO,” chairman Howard Davies said on Friday.
“She brings extensive experience and a track record of success from her previous roles at the bank. Following a rigorous internal and external process, I am confident that we have appointed the best person for the job.”
The confirmation of Rose as boss means RBS has become the first FTSE 100 to have a female chief executive and chief financial officer.
Katie Murray became finance chief in January, replacing Ewen Stevenson, who left to take up the same role at HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA).
Murray served under Stevenson as deputy chief financial officer for about two years before her promotion and has been at the bank since 2015.