first direct appoints Chris Pitt as the Chief Executive

By Megha Bhattacharya

Mobile banking solutions provider first direct has appointed Chris Pitt as the Chief Executive Officer, effective from the 1st of October. The new CEO will be responsible for delivering the company’s strategic growth plans and allow it to focus on boosting digital experiences.

Stuart Haire, Group General Manager, Wealth and Personal Banking, HSBC UK, said, “I am delighted to confirm Chris’s appointment to lead first direct. He is a great fit for the bank, with a really strong background in modern marketing, digital propositions and banking. He joins at a great time for first direct as it stands on the brink of an exciting new future.”

Chris Pitt is currently the Head of Marketing at HSBC UK. Previously, he has worked at TSB and Tesco Bank with responsibilities in development and launch of mortgage, insurance, credit card and investment products.

Chris Pitt, CEO of first direct, said, “I’m really excited to be taking on this challenging new role. first direct has consistently been a pioneer in UK banking and has an unmatched reputation for amazing customer experiences. My focus will be on building our reputation as a digital bank built around people, not processes, growing through financial wellness, and empowering customers to act with confidence in life. The potential of first direct in the digital age is huge.”

First Direct is a telephone and internet-based retail bank division of HSBC Bank plc based in the United Kingdom. First Direct has headquarters in Leeds, England, and has 1.45 million customers.

Recently, first direct selected Mastercard as its partner for its debit card portfolio. The collaboration enables the company to provide its customers with cards from the end of this year, as a part of its multi-year agreement.