Yorkshire Bank’s King heads back Down Under
ONE of Yorkshire Bank’s best known executives, Glenn King, is to return to his native Australia to head up a new business being launched by its parent group.
Mr King, who is operations director of Yorkshire Bank and its Scottish-based sister company Clydesdale, is to become chief executive of a new organisation being set up by National Australia Bank (NAB) to further improve the competitiveness of its financial services operations.
Mr King, who has spent five years in Yorkshire, will return to his native Melbourne, where NAB is based, to take-up the role at the as yet unnamed new business, on October 1.
He is a popular figure in the region’s business community and has helped raise Leeds-based Yorkshire Bank’s profile and brand which has included a range of new business initiatives, new products as well as sponsorship of charity, community, sporting and arts projects.
Mr King said he was leaving Yorkshire with “a touch of sadness” but was excited by the opportunity to run a new NAB business.
He joined NAB in 1999 and worked in New Zealand for two years before moving to the UK five years ago.
“This is a great new opportunity and something that will be a key part of the group strategy over the next few years. It has got the endorsement of the board. I’m looking forward to it but at the same time there is a touch of sadness because as a family we have certainly settled here in Yorkshire,” he said.
Both Mr King’s two children were born in Yorkshire.
“We have been out of Australia for seven years and Yorkshire has strong ties for us. It’s a tough one, but at the same time it’s a great opportunity.
“They wanted someone who can build something from scratch but also someone who can run a new business with runs on the board and an empathy and understanding of all the existing businesses,” he added.
Mr King said he is proud of what he has helped achieve at Yorkshire Bank.
“What stands out for me is how Yorkshire Bank’s potential has been realised in the broader community. People like dealing with Yorkshire Bank as an organisation.
“There is pride back in the organisation and that’s something I feel passionate about that I have been able to help with,” he added.
Mr King has more than 17 years experience in the financial services industry and within NAB he has led distribution, marketing, customer products and corporate affairs functions in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
In his role as operations director, banking delivery services, Mr King leads the property, performance and supplier services, commercial development and payments, and customer service centre operations functions for National Australia Bank in the UK.
