J Sainsbury plc said on Thursday that Lesley Jones has been appointed the new chair of Edinburgh-based Sainsbury’s Bank.

Jones will replace outgoing chair Roger Davis and her appointment is effective from January 30, 2021.

“Lesley has more than 35 years’ experience in banking and was Group Chief Credit Officer at RBS Group plc, between 2008 and 2014.

“Prior to RBS, she worked at Citigroup Inc. where she held a range of senior roles in relationship and risk management over a period of 30 years.

“Lesley is currently a Non-Executive Director of N Brown plc and a Non-Executive Director of Close Brothers Group plc.

“She is also an Independent Member of Moody’s Investor Services Ltd.”

J Sainsbury plc chairman Martin Scicluna said: “I am delighted to welcome Lesley as Chair of the Sainsbury’s Bank Board.

“Her extensive experience in banking will be highly valuable to us as we work to deliver the five-year plan we set out at our Capital Markets Day in September 2019.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Roger for his stewardship over the past seven years.

“He played an important role during the bank’s transition to its own flexible banking platform and in driving the bank’s integration with Sainsbury’s. We wish him well.”

Jones said: “I am delighted to be joining Sainsbury’s, whose reputation as a values-led business attracted me to the role.

“I look forward to working with the Sainsbury’s Bank management team and to being part of the wider Sainsbury’s business.”