Lloyds Bank announces new Midlands corporate leadership team

Huw Howells

Lloyds has announced that Andrew Connors is set to retire from the bank in June, with his role to be shared by Huw Howells and Jemal Omar.

Howells will continue the work of Connors, who headed up corporate and institutional banking in the region for the past six years alongside his role as managing director and public & third sector.

Continuing his existing role as managing director, and head of manufacturing and industrials, Howells will also serve as the regional head of the Midlands for corporate and institutional banking and will take up his new role in June.

Howells has worked at Lloyds for the past 10 years, and he will spearhead stakeholder activity in the region, predominantly focused on large corporate clients.

Jemal Omar has been appointed head of mid-corporates for the newly formed Midlands and East England region.

Jemal Omar

Omar will lead a team of experienced relationship banking colleagues focused on enabling growth for mid-corporate clients across the region.

Huw Howells said: “I am delighted to be taking up this role. Andrew leaves a legacy of fantastic client relationships, with highly skilled and knowledgeable teams that enable us to help continue to drive growth for the region.

“I know from my manufacturing background the importance of the Midlands as part of the beating heart of the UK’s economy. We’re supporting firms across the region as they embrace opportunities presented by new technologies, the transition to net zero and the strength of their skills and services.”

Omar said: “I am excited to move into this role, as someone that hails from the Midlands, the prosperity of the region’s businesses is close to my heart and one of the most rewarding aspects of this role.

“The investment into Mid Corporates underlines Lloyds’ own passion and commitment to growth here and, with the strong foundations already in place from our established and dedicated relationship banking colleagues, we’re in a prime position to accelerate that going forward.”