Tandem Bank appoints Simon Bowen as risk chief
Tandem Bank announced on Monday that it has appointed Simon Bowen as its chief risk officer, a move that follows a series of senior‑level changes at the UK digital challenger.
Simon Bowen takes the reins of risk
Bowen arrives from Cardiff‑based Hodge Bank, where he oversaw risk functions for nearly a decade. His résumé also includes a stint as senior manager of balance‑sheet risk at Lloyds Bank and more than nine years at Principality Building Society. The appointment ends the interim tenure of Richard Eager, who has filled the CRO role since March 2025.
At Hodge Bank, Bowen was responsible for integrating credit risk assessments with liquidity monitoring, a skill set that aligns closely with Tandem’s ambition to broaden its loan book while preserving capital resilience. His time at Lloyds gave him exposure to large‑scale balance‑sheet management, and his long service at Principality provided a grounding in building‑society‑style prudence. Together, these experiences suggest a holistic approach that will likely weave risk considerations into product development cycles, rather than treating them as a downstream checkpoint.
Additional senior appointments
Alongside the CRO hire, Tandem said Kevin Purcell will join as chief people officer, coming from Secure Trust Bank. He succeeds Catherine Diamond, who stepped down after a two‑year stint.
Purcell’s previous role placed him at the centre of talent acquisition, learning and development programmes, and employee engagement initiatives. By moving to Tandem, he is expected to translate those capabilities into a culture that supports rapid digital innovation while maintaining regulatory compliance. The shift shows Tandem’s belief that people strategy is a cornerstone of sustainable growth.
Long‑time Tandem employee Tom Ellmers has been promoted from savings director to managing director of deposits and digital experience. The new remit merges the bank’s app, customer experience, brand, communications and marketing under a single leader, a shift the company says will streamline execution.
Ellmers joined Tandem in 2022 and has overseen the evolution of its savings platform, guiding product enhancements that boosted user adoption. In his expanded role, he will coordinate the visual identity of the brand with the functional design of the mobile application, ensuring that messaging, user interface and service delivery are tightly aligned. This integration is intended to reduce friction for customers moving between onboarding, account management and promotional offers.
In the home‑improvement lending segment, Darvish Heshejin has been named managing director, replacing Julian Nutley. Heshejin previously served as vice president at Selina Finance.
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Heshejin’s background at Selina Finance involved structuring loans for renovation projects, managing underwriting criteria, and building partnerships with retailers. His appointment signals Tandem’s intent to deepen expertise in a niche that blends consumer credit with tangible asset improvement, a market that has shown steady demand despite broader economic headwinds.
Recent board and C‑suite reshuffle
Last year saw several other C‑suite moves: Ryan Heaps was promoted to chief financial officer, Russell Strevens took over as chief technology officer, and Neil Chandler was hired as chief executive officer.
Heaps brings a finance background that includes overseeing budgeting, capital allocation and investor reporting, which will be key as Tandem balances expansion with profitability. Strevens, who succeeded Suavek Zajac, is tasked with scaling the technology platform that underpins the bank’s mobile‑first offering, ensuring that system reliability keeps pace with user growth. Chandler’s leadership experience in the fintech space positions him to steer strategic partnerships and market positioning.
Banking veteran Stephen Jones became chair in March, succeeding Paul Pester, who had led the board since 2022. The same month, Clive Kornitzer joined as an independent non‑executive director.
Jones’ tenure as chair is expected to add a layer of governance oversight that complements the new risk leadership, while Kornitzer’s independent perspective will provide additional checks on strategic decisions, drawing on his experience from OSB.
These changes come as Tandem pushes to expand its digital‑first offerings while tightening oversight of credit and liquidity risks. The new risk chief will likely align the bank’s risk framework with its growth ambitions, a pattern seen at other fintech firms that have recently refreshed leadership teams.
Analysts note that turnover at the senior level can be a double‑edged sword: fresh perspectives may accelerate product rollout, yet constant shifts sometimes stall long‑term projects. Tandem’s latest hires suggest a concerted effort to balance speed with stability.
In a statement, the bank said the appointments “reflect our commitment to building a resilient organization capable of serving customers in a rapidly evolving market.” The risk function now has a new captain at the helm, which is oddly comforting for stakeholders watching the sector’s volatility.
