Santander UK said its chief executive officer, Mike Regnier, will leave the role by the first quarter of 2026 as the lender prepares to integrate TSB, which it agreed to buy in July for £2.65 billion.

Regnier joined the Spanish banking group in March 2022 and has led a programme of change at the UK arm that culminated in the acquisition, subject to regulatory approval.

The bank has begun a search for his successor and expects to conclude the process in early 2026, according to statements and media reports. The move follows senior leadership changes at Santander UK this year, including the appointment of Tom Scholar as chair in August.

Explaining his decision to depart, Regnier said the TSB integration would run beyond his planned tenure. “It had been my intention to move on after 4-5 years with Santander as I have other interests I would like to pursue,” he said. “Given that the integration of TSB will take considerably longer than this, I have suggested to the board that now would be a good time to find a successor who can see this critical project through to its completion and beyond.”

Ana Botín, executive chair of Banco Santander, praised Regnier’s contribution and framed the TSB deal as central to the group’s UK strategy. “Mike has done an excellent job in his four years with Santander… Our decision to acquire TSB accelerates our strategy and is a clear statement of intent in our ambition for Santander in the UK,” she said.

Santander agreed to acquire TSB from Banco de Sabadell and integrate it with Santander UK, underlining its focus on retail and commercial banking in Britain after a period of uncertainty, during which it considered bids for the UK business and cut jobs. The purchase followed a competitive process in which Santander beat Barclays to the unit, according to industry reports.

Regnier reiterated that leadership stability would be important through the integration and ongoing transformation of Santander UK. “Judging the right moment to move on is very important to ensure leadership stability through a period of intense change and opportunity,” he said, adding that strong succession plans are in place.

Reuters reported that the successor search is under way and noted recent board changes at the UK arm, with Scholar succeeding William Vereker as chair in August.

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