Former RBS executives take the helm at Virgin Money

VIRGIN Money yesterday unveiled its final management line-up, with several former Royal Bank of Scotland executives taking charge of Richard Branson’s newly-expanded bank.

Among them is Finlay Williamson, who has been confirmed in his role as chief financial officer. He joined Virgin Money in early 2010.

Stephen Pearson, who joined from RBS in August, is the bank’s general counsel.

Other former RBS executives include marketing director, Paul Lloyd, who held a variety of similar roles at the Edinburgh-based banking giant. Jim MacDonald, Virgin’s customer and distribution director, was a commercial director at Eon, but previous to this was chief executive of the RBS/Tesco joint venture, Tesco Personal Finance. Virgin’s people director, Matt Elliott ,worked with RBS until 2007 before moving to oil giant BP.

Norman McLuskie, a former deputy chief executive at RBS, remains as a non-executive director of Sir Richard Branson’s group’s bank after he was appointed to the board in 2010.

Mark Parker, the bank’s chief operating officer, is the only former Northern Rock executive to remain among the top team after Virgin Money swallowed the failed lender in a £747 million deal agreed with the government last year.