• Simon Bowen appointed Chief Risk Officer, previously CRO at Hodge Bank. • Kevin Purcell appointed Chief People Officer, formerly at Secure Trust Bank. • Darvish Heshejin appointed Managing Director of Home Improvement Lending, as  

industry spokesperson Julian Nutley transitions to a new role from September to become  Senior Adviser to Tandem on home improvement lending.  

• Tom Ellmers expands executive role to Managing Director of Deposits and Digital  Experience, bringing together Tandem’s app, customer experience, brand, communications and marketing under one remit.

20 AUGUST, LONDON: Digital challenger bank Tandem has announced a series of senior  leadership changes as it accelerates a new investor-backed strategy focused on sustainable  finance - helping customers live more sustainably and build everyday financial resilience. The  changes are supported by significant investment across Tandem’s executive team, Board,  digital capability and customer proposition as the bank enters its next stage of growth. 

Risk and People leadership 

Simon Bowen joins Tandem as Chief Risk Officer. An ACMA-qualified finance leader, Simon  brings over 25 years of risk and finance transformation experience across the UK banking  sector, most recently as CRO at Hodge Bank as well as senior roles at Lloyds Banking Group  and Principality Building Society. Additionally, Tandem strengthens its wider risk leadership with  the appointment of Natalie Trist as Director of Credit Risk Strategy, bringing over 25 years’  credit leadership experience across HSBC, Close Brothers, Secure Trust Bank and Vanquis  Banking Group.

Simon commented; "Tandem has established itself as one of the most credible purpose-led digital banks in the market,” he said. I'm delighted to be joining the executive team and look  forward to playing my part in what comes next." 

Kevin Purcell also joins as Chief People Officer, bringing more than 30 years of senior people  leadership experience across financial services.

Formerly CPO at Secure Trust Bank, Kevin  also served as CPO at Universities Superannuation Scheme and has held senior HR leadership  roles at Barclays Investment Bank and UBS Investment Bank. Kevin succeeds Catherine  Diamond, following two years as Chief People Officer

, during which Tandem was recognised as  a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for two consecutive years and most recently Certified™ Great Place to Work®.

Kevin said; “You can tell a lot about a business from the recognition it earns from its own  people. Back-to-back Sunday Times awards showcase what Tandem is building, and I am  looking forward to taking that agenda further as we scale."

Home Improvement Lending

Tandem has also confirmed further internal changes, including Darvish Heshejin who has been  appointed Managing Director of Home Improvement Lending, moving from Director of Strategy  and Proposition. He will focus on scaling Tandem’s home improvement lending proposition as  the bank approaches £1bn in green lending, while also leading the launch of its revamped  marketplace proposition. 

Darvish succeeds Julian Nutley, who is transitioning to a new role from September to become  Senior Adviser to Tandem, supporting Darvish and the HIL team. Julian founded Allium Money - the green lending business acquired by Tandem in 2020 - and has played a central role in  building Tandem's home improvement lending proposition into one of the most established in  the UK market. 

Julian Nutley said: "It has been a privilege to help build Tandem's home improvement lending  business into what it is today. I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved and I’m  looking forward to continuing to support Darvish as he takes it from strength to strength.” 

Deposits and Digital Experience 

In addition, with over four years at Tandem, Tom Ellmers expands his executive role as  Managing Director of Deposits and Digital Experience, creating a single leadership structure  across Tandem’s deposits, app, brand, customer experience, corporate communications and digital marketing teams.

Neil Chandler, CEO of Tandem, commented: "Tandem is entering a defining and important next stage of growth, backed by a clear investor-supported strategy and with ambition to scale  our impact, and continued investment in sustainable finance. These changes bring together our  risk, people, lending, and digital teams under leaders with a proven track record, as we invest in  the next phase of our growth.  

“I want to thank Julian for everything he has built in home improvement lending, and I’m glad he will continue supporting Darvish and the team as he moves into his new role. I’d also like thank Catherine for the lasting impact she has had on our culture and our people. I am delighted to  welcome Simon, Kevin, and Natalie to the business, and to see Darvish and Tom take on these  expanded roles." 

These changes build on a sustained period of investment in Tandem's leadership. In 2025,  Ryan Heaps was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Russell Strevens joined as Chief  Technology Officer. At Board level, Stephen Jones was appointed Chair at the start of 2026, and  Clive Kornitzer joined as Independent Non-Executive Director in March 2026. 

–ENDS–

Notes to Editors 

Tandem Bank FY25 highlights 

• Tandem reported its fourth consecutive year of profitability in FY2025.  
• Underlying operating profit of £17.4 million and net interest income of £87.9 million. • Assets under management increased 11.2% to £1.68 billion.
• Originated £336 million in second charge mortgages, £203 million in motor finance and  £123 million in home improvement lending during the year. Sustainability remained  central to its strategy.  
• More than £631 million of green and Pathway to Green lending on its balance sheet,  helping customers save over 75,600 tonnes of CO₂. 

Simon Bowen

• Simon was previously Chief Risk Officer and Executive Committee member at Hodge  Bank.  
• He is an ACMA-qualified finance leader by trade with over 25 years of experience driving  risk and finance transformation across the UK banking sector and specialises in bridging  the gap between robust regulatory compliance and commercial growth. Throughout his  career, which includes pivotal risk and finance roles at Lloyds Banking Group and  Principality Building Society, he has been a champion of risk culture transformation,  leveraging modern technology and collaborative leadership.  
• His appointment is subject to regulatory approval.  

Kevin Purcell

• Kevin was previously Chief People Officer at Secure Trust Bank, where he led a wide ranging programme of executive restructuring, cultural transformation and the £460m  sale of its motor finance business. 
• Also served as Chief People Officer at Universities Superannuation Scheme, one of the  UK's largest private pension schemes.  
• Has held senior HR leadership roles at Barclays Investment Bank and UBS Investment  Bank, where he operated at Managing Director level with global responsibility. 
• A specialist in organisational transformation, remuneration restructuring, cultural change  and executive team development. 

Natalie Trist 

• Natalie Trist joined Tandem Bank in 2026 as Director of Credit Risk Strategy where she  leads the end-to-end credit risk function, spanning lending, modelling, oversight and  impairment. 
• She brings over 25 years’ experience across banking and consumer finance. Prior to  joining Tandem, Natalie held senior roles at Secure Trust Bank and served as Chief  Credit Officer at Vanquis Banking Group. Earlier in her career, she held credit leadership  roles at Close Brothers and HSBC.  

Media Contact 

Phillipa Gerrard at 56° North on phillipa.gerrard@56degreesnorth.co.uk | +44 7518 538364 

About Tandem 

Tandem is a digital bank on a mission to help customers live more sustainably – where better financial choices make that easier, every day. 

Tandem offers app-based savings that don’t just grow, they help others make sustainable choices. From loans for greener home improvements and vehicles, to EPC discount mortgages, our products make it easier for more people to choose a greener lifestyle – helping customers get more from their money.

Launched in 2014 as one of the UK’s original challenger banks, we’re proudly headquartered in the North West, and now employ over 500 people across Blackpool, Cardiff, Durham and  London. 

Recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for 2024 and 2025, Tandem has also been named in The Sunday Times 100 Tech list for two consecutive years in 2025 and 2026 – a list of the fastest growing tech companies in Britain, reflective of their growing industry presence. In 2025, Tandem was also awarded Investor in Customers’ Gold Standard based on customer and employee feedback, and Certified™ Great Place to Work®. 

Tandem Bank Limited t/a Tandem is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 

To find out more, visit www.tandem.co.uk