Carolyn Fairbairn and Lord Blackwell join Lloyds Banking Group board

Lloyds Banking Group yesterday announced the appointments of Carolyn Fairbairn, a former ITV and BBC executive, and Lord Blackwell as non-executive directors.

Blackwell, recently the senior independent director on the board of Standard Life, will also assume the chairmanship of the Scottish Widows Group of companies on 1 September, taking over from Lord Sandy Leach, who announced he will retire in September.

Lloyds chairman Sir Win Bischoff said: “Carolyn Fairbairn’s background in strategy, public policy and regulation complements that of Lord Blackwell in banking, consulting and insurance. Both bring experience in a number of important roles to our board.”

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Meanwhile, the Royal Bank of Scotland has “loaned out” one of its communication chiefs, Andrew Wilson. The former SNP MSP has been a senior communications director with the bank for nine years.

Andrew McLaughlin, the bank’s head of communications and group chief economist, told staff yesterday that Wilson would start an 18 month secondment with advertising giant WPP as of today.

McLaughlin said Wilson “will continue to play a pivotal role in our strategy to restore the reputation of the group. He will have a specific remit within WPP to improve and integrate their advice and service to RBS across our businesses with a particular focus on bringing forward creative ideas and research to help us improve our corporate reputation.”

ERIKKA ASKELAND