UK private bank Hampden & Co makes two C-suite appointments
Hampden & Co has made two C-suite appointments as the fast-growing private bank continues to record growth in deposits and loans across the UK.
Peter Craigie has joined as the bank’s new chief risk officer from Lloyds Banking Group, where he was chief risk officer for Islands Banking. In addition, Gordon Syme has joined the bank as general counsel from Aegon Asset Management, where he was head of legal & regulatory (UK).
The latest appointments follow hires in London and Edinburgh across 2022 and come as the bank expects the strong demand from clients, professional intermediaries, and mortgage introducers to continue in 2023.
Peter Craigie has spent over three decades in the retail banking, insurance, and building society sectors, with experience in conduct, market and operational risk, treasury and finance, and business development. After 20 years in the building society and banking sectors, he joined Lloyds Banking Group in 2012, where he held senior roles covering financial risk, business risk, customer proposition, and customer strategy development.
He replaces Alison Inverarity, who has retired from the chief risk officer role. Inverarity joined Hampden & Co in 2014 and was involved in setting up the bank, having previously been part of the senior team that established Scottish Widows Bank alongside Hampden’s CEO Graeme Hartop.
Graeme Hartop, CEO, Hampden & Co, said: “Alison made a significant contribution to Hampden & Co through the years and we thank her for the success and value she brought to the bank. We are pleased to bring in someone of Peter’s calibre and experience to take up the leadership of our risk and compliance responsibilities.”
Peter Craigie, chief risk officer, Hampden & Co, said: “Hampden & Co is a fast-growing player in UK private banking, with a high-quality management team. Strong risk management is vital to the bank’s continued growth and development. I look forward to working with Graeme and the Hampden & Co team to build on the bank’s excellent credentials and reputation.”
Gordon Syme has also joined Hampden & Co’s executive management team as general counsel. He is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the Board and the management team.
Syme has joined from Dutch-owned investment company Aegon Asset Management, where he was responsible for all UK legal, regulatory and company secretarial matters. Syme previously worked at Standard Life and Dundas & Wilson (now part of CMS).
Graeme Hartop added: “Gordon has a strong record in legal advisory and leadership roles, including at two of the UK’s biggest financial services groups, and we’re extremely pleased to get him on board at the bank.”
In August last year, Hampden & Co reported record results for the first half of 2022. Total income increased 47% year-on-year, with deposits up 21% to £731m and loans and advances up 14% to £434m. The bank benefitted from demand for its deposit, specialist mortgage and day-to-day banking services. It expects to announce its full-year 2022 results in April this year.
Graeme Hartop concluded: “We start 2023 in a very strong position, with an exceptional team, and firmly expect the growth we saw in 2022 to continue in 2023 as clients value our personalised approach to serving their banking needs.”
