Tom Harris has joined OakNorth as chief technology officer, stepping into the role with immediate effect.

Harris moves from Octopus‑owned Seccl, where he served as CTO for two years. Before that, he spent six years at ClearBank, progressing from head of engineering to CTO in 2021. At ClearBank he led work across the core platform, data infrastructure and operational systems for customer service and financial crime prevention.

Announcing his appointment on LinkedIn, Harris said it felt like the right moment to move into a front‑of‑house bank after a decade building and scaling banking infrastructure at ClearBank and Seccl.

At OakNorth, Harris will oversee technology and AI across the bank’s lending, business banking and savings platforms. He said he will expand the engineering team and is keen to hear from candidates at all levels.

His remit includes OakNorth’s technical initiatives and its partnership with OpenAI, signed last year, as well as supporting the bank’s continued expansion in the US. OakNorth agreed a deal in March 2025 to acquire Michigan‑based Community Unity Bank, describing the move as a foundation for its growth in the market.

“The opportunity at OakNorth is hugely exciting as we continue to grow, innovate and expand, including into the US,” Harris said.

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