Santander UK has appointed a new chief operating officer in the shape of Michael Harte, who joins from Barclays where he was group head of innovation and previously served as group head of operations and technology.

Harte will oversee Santander UK’s business divisions and investments in the areas of technology, operations, networks, property and digital change management. His role will also include joint responsibility, with chief customer and innovation officer Sigga Sigurdardottir, for customer and innovation services that will lead the digital transformation of the bank.

Prior to his roles at Barclays, Harte held senior technology and innovation positions at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Citigroup and PNC Financial Services.

Michael will report to CEO Nathan Bostock and start his new role during the spring of 2018.

Commenting on the appointment, Bostock said: “I am delighted to appoint Michael as our new chief operating officer. He brings extensive knowledge and experience of both the banking and wider financial services sector, specifically the transformation and disruption occurring across products and business models.

“Michael will be pivotal in delivering our ambitious innovation agenda and our digital transformation, creating a more agile organisation that is responsive to our customer needs and market leading innovation.”

Harte added: “Santander is widely regarded as a leader in customer service, design, data and digital services – particularly for creating customer value through innovation. With major shifts in platforms and services, it is an exciting time to be at the forefront of this change and to be able to work with the very best to create value for all the customers and communities we serve.”

Share Story: