RBS boss: there are two internal candidates for CEO

Alison Rose

Royal Bank of Scotland CEO Ross McEwan told an LBC radio show on Friday that RBS is considering two internal candidates to be the company’s next chief executive.

McEwan, who announced on April 25 that he will step down as RBS CEO after more than five-and-a-half years, told the radio programme that alongside favourite Alison Rose, another internal candidate has emerged.

“A decision for the board and the chairman of the board that’s got a process looking at internal candidates who I think are excellent,” said McEwan.

“Alison, and we’ve got another internal candidate which we’re delighted that they’ve put their hand up and said that they want the job.

“And that has to be assessed against the external candidates.”

RBS is still 62% owned by the UK taxpayer following its bailout during the last financial crisis.

Rose, recently promoted to deputy chief executive of NatWest Holdings, has been seen as the leading internal candidate to take over from McEwan.

Rose has worked at RBS for more than 26 years and is also the bank’s CEO of Commercial & Private Banking.

If Rose became CEO, such a move would make RBS the first bank in Britain to have two women in its most senior positions at the same time.

Katie Murray became the bank’s chief financial officer last December. 

RBS said on April 25 that McEwan has a 12 month notice period and “will remain in his position until a successor has been appointed and an orderly handover has taken place.”