C Hoare & Co. names Diana Brightmore-Armour as CEO

C

Hoare & Co., the oldest privately owned bank in the UK, has appointed Diana Brightmore-Armour as its new CEO.

Brightmore-Armour joined C Hoare & Co. in January 2020 as a non-executive director and holds 30 years’ international experience in banking and corporate finance. Most recently, she was CEO for UK and Europe at ANZ; before that, she was CEO of corporate banking at Lloyds Banking Group.

C Hoare & Co. partner Alexander Hoare said: “We are delighted to welcome Diana as our CEO. Her energy, vision and integrity chime exactly with the values of the bank and the Hoare family, while her proven expertise and leadership makes her the ideal person to take the bank forward.

“We are a 349-year-old bank with one eye always on the future. Diana is well placed to ensure we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers and inspire our people, and I know she will respect the tradition of care and deep personal relationships that underpins our business.”

Venetia Hoare, who became the bank’s first female partner in 1996, added: “Appointing a woman as our new CEO is another landmark in C Hoare & Co.’s long history. I am looking forward to working with Diana and she is the right person to lead the bank.”

Brightmore-Armour said: “C Hoare & Co. holds a unique place in British banking, with a history of pioneering initiatives, and I am delighted to be part of the next chapter. Since joining the board, chaired by Lord Macpherson, I have been impressed by the clear sense of purpose shared by the partners and my colleagues at the bank, and their absolute commitment to putting the customer first in all their decisions.

“I am proud to be the first woman to take up the role of CEO and look forward to engaging with our customers, our people and our partners to ensure the continued success of this remarkable institution.”