New chief executive for Cardiff-based Hodge

CARDIFF-BASED Hodge has appointed Steve Pateman to the role of chief executive officer.

Mr Pateman will join Hodge, the group of companies that includes Hodge Bank and Hodge Lifetime, subject to regulatory approval, early next year. He will take over from retiring managing director David Austin.

Mr Pateman was previously CEO of Shawbrook Bank, where he led the company for almost three years.

During this time it continued to achieve double-digit growth in balance sheet and revenues culminating in the “take private” transaction with Pollen Street Capital and BC Partners.

Prior to his role at Shawbrook, Mr Pateman led the UK banking businesses of Santander. Before joining Santander, he had a number of senior management roles at Royal Bank of Scotland across its corporate and retail banking divisions.

Mr Pateman recently joined Bank of Ireland as a non-executive director; he is vice-president of the Chartered Banker Institute and a member of council. He also chairs the advisory board of Arora Hotels.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Pateman said: “I am delighted to be joining Hodge as it seeks to build on the strong foundations it has already laid in its retail and commercial banking and life assurance businesses.

“It has a unique ownership structure and ethos that is hugely attractive in terms of creating a sustainable business that then seeks to support those in the communities in which it operates. As a newcomer to the business, I am looking forward to learning more and to working with the team that has taken the group this far on its journey.”

David Austin is retiring from the group after a 28-year tenure, first as finance director and for the past 20 years as managing director.

On his pending retirement Mr Austin said: “The past 28 years at Hodge have been very rewarding and I’m looking forward to my retirement. Before that, I’ll be working closely with Steve to ensure a smooth transition in the new year.”

Adrian Piper, chairman of Hodge, said: “On behalf of the board I extend our thanks and appreciation to David for his outstanding commitment and leadership over almost three decades. We wish him well in his upcoming retirement. We’re delighted to welcome Steve to Hodge and the board is very much looking forward to working with him.”