Clydesdale moves to beef-up cohort of bosses as de-merger looms

Clydesdale Bank announced the appointment of two new members to its senior team as it prepares to become one of the largest independent “challenger” banks in the UK.

The new appointments were announced as the Glasgow-based lender’s parent National Australia Bank (NAB) revealed that it plans to begin its long-anticipated floation of Clydesdale in February.

Gavin Opperman, a former executive with Standard Chartered, takes up the role of director of customer banking.

Kate Guthrie, who has spent more than a decade with Lloyds Banking Group, moves in to the newly created position of human resources director.

Ms Guthrie joins the bank’s leadership team reporting to the chief executive David Duffy, responsible for developing and leading the bank’s ambitious HR strategy.

Prior to joining Lloyds as an HR director in 2004, Ms Guthrie held HR director positions with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Scottish and Newcastle and United Distillers, part of drinks giant Diageo.

Mr Opperman brings over 30 years spent across digital, retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking, and will also report to Mr Duffy.

Mr Duffy, said: “Further strengthening the bank’s leadership team, both Kate and Gavin have first-class track records of building dynamic and successful service-led cultures across large organisations.”