News / banking
CEO of Bristol-headquartered bank to step down
The chief executive of a banking group with its UK headquarters in Bristol is set to step down after nearly a decade at the helm.
Bevis Watts who led the award-winning Triodos Bank since 2016 has called it a day.
Watts will remain in the post until June 2025 which will mark his tenth year as the chief executive of Triodos. His departure will also coincide with Triodos Bank’s 30th anniversary in the UK which is set to provide a platform to celebrate its legacy and welcome a new chief executive.
Under Watts’ leadership the bank underwent major changes: Switching from a telephone and internet savings bank to a current account and mobile banking provider; extending the investments product range and becoming the first UK bank to launch an investment crowdfunding platform.
Watts led Triodos Bank with its headquarters on Deanery Road for nearly a decade – photo: Milan Perera
Watts has spent 15 years at the firm altogether, which he called a “reference point” and a “source of inspiration”
He said: “I’m immensely grateful for the support of our customers and coworkers. We have achieved a huge amount together in building and growing the bank but more importantly we have pioneered the financing of several national ‘firsts’ in social and environmental projects and we have delivered a huge body of work that has been at the forefront of advocating for change in the financial system.
“I know that Triodos will continue to be a reference point and source of inspiration on how banking must change to be a force for good.”
With B-Corp certification under its belt, the Deanery Road-based banking group recently bagged the prestigious ‘Global Good Finance Player of the Year’ award at the Global Good Awards, in recognition of “making a positive impact through financing progressive companies and organisations”.
Watts’ colleagues hailed his tenure as a “transformational leadership” and lauded Watts himself as “a great champion for what we stand for”.
Noted for his sustainability credentials, Watts led Avon Wild Life Trust for three years before taking the reins at Triodos Bank – photo: Triodos Bank/Bevis Watts
Gary Page, chair of Triodos Bank UK: ”The bank is a much larger and more impactful organisation thanks to Bevis’s transformational leadership and with a strong team to take the bank forward to fulfil our ambitions to finance change and change finance.
“ He has always been a great champion for what we stand for and everything we do. We are immensely grateful for his contribution over many years and all he has done for Triodos. I am delighted that Bevis will be remaining with the bank to support the handover process with his successor.”
Noted for his sustainability credentials, Watts led Avon Wild Life Trust for three years before taking the reins at Triodos Bank.
Main photo: Triodos Bank
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