NatWest Group has appointed Solange Chamberlain as chief executive officer of its retail bank, marking the lender's first significant appointment since ending its 17-year tenure in partial taxpayer ownership.

Chamberlain, who has worked for NatWest since 2019, will take up her new role on 1st July, subject to regulatory approval. She will report directly to chief executive officer Paul Thwaite and become a member of the executive committee of NatWest Holdings.

The appointment comes nearly six months after predecessor David Lindberg's departure was announced, with Chamberlain set to lead a retail bank serving more than 18 million customers across Britain.

"I'm delighted to welcome Solange as the new chief executive officer of Retail at such a pivotal time for NatWest," said Paul Thwaite, chief executive officer of NatWest Group. "She has a deep understanding of the competitive and fast-moving environment we're operating in and will help us accelerate our strategy. Her knowledge of our customers, sharp strategic thinking, and track record of transformation delivery will help us to grow our retail business and succeed with customers."

Chamberlain expressed enthusiasm about her new role, stating: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to lead NatWest's retail bank at such an exciting time. Over 18 million customers rely upon a combination of our market-leading digital offering and talented colleagues, whether they're buying a home, saving for the future, or managing their money. By focusing on our customers' needs and ensuring they can bank with us in a way that suits them, we have a great opportunity to build on these relationships and begin new ones."

Since joining NatWest in 2019, Chamberlain has held several senior management positions. She served as chief operating officer of the commercial bank, which later expanded to cover commercial and institutional banking following a merger of three business divisions. In September 2023, she became director of transition and leadership, supporting Paul Thwaite first as interim chief executive officer and then in his permanent role.

Since April 2024, she has served as group director of strategic development and member of the group executive committee. Before joining NatWest, the former investment banker spent seven years in various roles across Lloyds Banking Group and began her career in investment banking with positions at Citigroup, Perella Weinberg Partners and Lazard.

The appointment follows a significant milestone for NatWest, as the Treasury sold the last of its shareholding on Friday, ending the bank's tenure in partial government ownership. The state had bailed out the then Royal Bank of Scotland with £45.5 billion of taxpayers' money during the 2008 financial crisis.

NatWest's retail bank operates as one of the industry's four biggest retail banks alongside Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group. The recent acquisition of Sainsbury's Bank added one million accounts to NatWest's retail customer base.

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