LLOYDS BANKING Group, the UK owners of Bank of Scotland (Ireland), has transferred a senior executive from its operations in the UK to take over as head of risk at the Irish bank.
The bank has appointed Martin Akers, a former head of wholesale banking at Lloyds TSB, to the post.
He has replaced Paul McEvoy who remains at the same level within the bank and a member of the executive management team at Bank of Scotland (Ireland).
Mr McEvoy has taken over responsibility for assessing the Irish loans to be moved into the UK government assets protection scheme (Gaps) – the British alternative to the Nama “bad bank” plan. The UK scheme allows banks to absorb losses over time rather than up front under Nama.
A spokesman for the bank had no comment on the personnel changes within the company.
Mr Akers was among the senior executives chosen by Lloyds to manage the integration of the bank’s corporate assets with Bank of Scotland when Lloyds merged with HBOS last year.
Lloyds is currently assessing all its overseas businesses.
The latest management changes within Bank of Scotland (Ireland) comes as the bank carries out a review of its operations with a radical downsizing or possible closure of its retail business, Halifax, under consideration.
The bank will announce the outcome of the review at the end of August.
The review is being led by chief executive Joe Higgins who took over the position three months ago. Mr Higgins was previously head of mortgage lending at HBOS in the UK.
Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has undergone a significant management shake-up recently.
Antoinette Dunne, who was in charge of Halifax through her role as head of retail and intermediary banking at the bank, stepped down in a surprise move last week.
Ms Dunne, who worked for the bank for over 20 years, was appointed to the role just over a year ago and was a member of the bank’s executive management.
Her departure follows that of Mark Duffy who stepped down as chief executive in April after 16 years with the bank.
Chief operating officer Richard McDonnell leaves the bank later this month.
