Craigie has joined as the bank’s chief risk officer from Lloyds Banking Group, where he held the same role for islands banking. His retail banking, insurance and building society career spans more than 30 years and includes roles at Nationwide, Northern Rock and Dunfermline Building Society.
He replaces Alison Inverarity who retired from the role after nine years with Hampden and Co. Inverarity had a hand in establishing the bank and was also part of the senior team which helped to set up Scottish Widows Bank, alongside Hampden’s CEO Graeme Hartop.
Hartop said: “Alison made a significant contribution to Hampden and Co through the years, and we thank her for the success and value she brought to the bank. We are pleased to bring in someone of Peter’s calibre and experience to take up the leadership of our risk and compliance responsibilities.”
Craigie said: “Hampden and Co is a fast-growing player in UK private banking, with a high quality management team. Strong risk management is vital to the bank’s continued growth and development.
“I look forward to working with Graeme and the Hampden and Co team to build on the bank’s excellent credentials and reputation.”
Syme has been appointed as general counsel. He comes from Aegon Asset Management where he was head of legal and regulatory UK.
He will be responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the Hampden and Co board and management team.
Hartop added: “Gordon has a strong record in legal advisory and leadership roles, including at two of the UK’s biggest financial services groups, and we’re extremely pleased to get him on board at the bank.”
Ready for growth
Hampden and Co expects demand from clients to continue this year, following record results for the first half of 2022.
Its total income rose by 47 per cent annually while loans and advances increased by 14 per cent to £434m. Hampden attributed its performance to the demand for its deposit, specialist mortgage and banking services.
It will publish its full year results for 2022 in April.
Hartop said: “We start 2023 in a very strong position, with an exceptional team, and firmly expect the growth we saw in 2022 to continue in 2023 as clients value our personalised approach to serving their banking needs.”
