Starling Group, the digital bank known for its customer-centric offerings, has announced the appointment of four new executives to its leadership team.
According to FinTech Finance, the latest additions to the executive committee include Catarina Abrantes-Steinberg as group chief people officer, Ian Cox as group head of internal audit, Monica Risam as group general counsel, and Bernadette Smith, who has been promoted to chief compliance officer.
Founded to challenge traditional banking through innovative digital solutions, Starling has rapidly grown into a prominent player in the FinTech sector, serving both consumers and businesses with a strong focus on security, simplicity and transparency.
The appointments reflect a mix of internal growth and external recruitment. Bernadette Smith, who joined Starling in 2022 and has served in several key roles across risk and compliance, will now lead the bank’s compliance strategy as chief compliance officer. Meanwhile, Abrantes-Steinberg, Cox and Risam are all external hires, each bringing extensive experience in their respective fields.
Catarina Abrantes-Steinberg most recently served as chief people officer at Dojo Paymentsense, where she oversaw talent strategy during a phase of rapid expansion. Her earlier roles span leadership positions at Russell Reynolds Associates, Expedia Inc., and management consulting at McKinsey & Company.
Ian Cox brings over 25 years of audit and governance expertise to his new role. Prior to joining Starling, he was group chief internal auditor at Network International in Dubai. He will now lead Starling’s internal audit efforts, reporting to the board audit committee and reinforcing the bank’s focus on risk management and compliance.
Monica Risam, a dual-qualified lawyer in the UK and US, previously served as group general counsel and company secretary at Lombard International Group. Her background includes senior roles at Aviva, GE Capital, and law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Starling Group CEO Raman Bhatia said, “I’m thrilled to welcome Catarina, Ian, Monica and Bernadette to Starling’s executive team. These appointments reflect our unwavering commitment to building a world-class leadership team with deep expertise. Their combined experience will be instrumental as we prepare for the next phase of growth at Starling.”
While Bernadette Smith’s promotion takes immediate effect, the remaining appointments are expected to formally begin in early summer, pending regulatory approvals.
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