Lucky for some: Starling adds 13th member to its exec team with first chief asset management officer

Starling Bank has just added a 13th member to its executive team, appointing Damian Thompson into the newly-created role of chief asset management officer.

In his new role, Thompson will be responsible for looking after Starling’s activities around acquiring and managing loan assets.

“This role is centred on the need of the bank to grow its asset base in line with its deposit growth, recognising that some of those assets will be originated by Starling and some will be originated externally by third parties. It’s about making that work well, in a safe and secure way that generates returns,” the incoming Starling executive said.

Prior to Starling, Thompson was previously head of NatWest’s UK financial institution client business for nearly 19 years.

At NatWest, he and his team helped banks and non-bank lenders with funding, risk management and capital market issuance.

It’s no doubt that Starling’s latest appointment will get customers excited at the prospect of a potential Starling asset management offering—something which its rival Revolut has been looking into for some time—although the bank has yet to confirm any plans.

Thompson joins the likes of Helen Bierton, chief banking officer, Clare Nestor, COO, Declan Ferguson,Starling’s deputy CFO and chief strategy officer, as Starling’s top executives.