The Board of Hampshire Trust Bank plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Wyles as the Bank’s new Chief Executive Officer subject to regulatory approval. Matthew will join Hampshire Trust Bank with immediate effect as CEO (Designate).

 This follows the announcement late last year that Mark Sismey-Durrant, who has been CEO since 2012, had decided to retire once his successor was in place.

 Prior to joining Hampshire Trust Bank, Matthew was a director of Castle Trust Capital plc and prior to that served for five years as an executive director of Nationwide Building Society. Matthew was also Chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders for two years during 2009 and 2010. He has broad and highly relevant experience in the markets within which Hampshire Trust Bank operates.

 Robert Sharpe, Chairman of Hampshire Trust Bank, said: “I am truly delighted the Hampshire Trust Bank Board has secured the services of Matthew Wyles as the Bank’s next CEO following Mark’s decision to retire.  Matthew is a practitioner well known in the retail and small business banking circles for achieving outstanding results. He is exactly the right person to provide the stewardship, entrepreneurial insights and the leadership to successfully steer the Bank through the next stage of its development and growth.”

Matthew Wyles said: “Specialist banks are already fulfilling a key role in broadening choice for personal and business customers. They also play an important and growing part in making the UK economy more productive and efficient. Hampshire Trust Bank has already made significant progress since its acquisition by Alchemy in establishing its position as an emerging challenger – it has tremendous development potential. I am thrilled to have the opportunity of leading the management team to build an exceptional business on the strong foundations which are already in place.”