Rick Haythornthwaite, the City grandee who has chaired firms together with Centrica and Network Rail, is being lined up as the brand new chairman of NatWest Group within the wake of the row in regards to the de-banking of Nigel Farage.
Sky News has learnt that Mr Haythornthwaite, who at the moment chairs Ocado and the AA, is predicted to be appointed as Sir Howard Davies’s successor within the coming days.
City sources stated that an announcement might come as early as Wednesday following the disclosure of his potential appointment.
Mr Haythornthwaite is amongst Britain’s most skilled businesspeople, having led a string of firms, together with MasterCard International.
A pal of his stated: “Rick is passionate about Britain and believes NatWest is an important company.”
NatWest, which stays almost 40%-owned by the taxpayer, has endured a torrid few weeks over the closure of Mr Farage’s Coutts accounts.
The then chief govt of NatWest, Dame Alison Rose, briefed a BBC journalist that the accounts had been shut for industrial causes, prompting the publication of an inaccurate story.
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Farage requires complete NatWest board to go
It subsequently emerged that the financial institution had taken Mr Farage’s repute and political beliefs into consideration, sparking one of many greatest rows to engulf the British banking sector in years.
Sir Howard had at all times deliberate to step down earlier than the financial institution’s annual assembly in 2024, and it’s not thought that his departure shall be accelerated considerably.
A NatWest spokeswoman declined to remark.
Source: information.sky.com”
