BofI to name Robert Sharpe as new UK chairman

Bank of Ireland has sought approval from the Financial Services Authority to appoint Robert Sharpe to be the next chairman of its business in the UK. Mr Sharpe would replace Christopher Fisher in the role.

Mr Sharpe is currently a director of British competitor Aldermore Bank plc, along with other roles.

His appointment would mark a return to the Bank of Ireland fold, where he was chief executive of the UK business for seven and a half years up to August 1994.

He had previously been head of Bank of America Mortgages UK for six years, a business he sold to Bank of Ireland.

More recently, Mr Sharpe spent three years working in the Middle East as an independent non-executive director with three banks - Alternatif Bank in Turkey, National Bank of Oman and United Arab Bank in the UAE.

In addition, he was chief executive of Diners Club Credit Card in the Middle East and vice chairman of Orient 1, a Bermuda-based investment vehicle.

35 years

He has more than 35 years of executive and board experience in banking. His previous UK director roles included being chairman of a joint venture between HSBC and Barclays.

Commenting on the change, Bank of Ireland said: “Last year, Christopher Fisher, the current chairman of Bank of Ireland UK, announced internally his decision to stand down from his position ... in the first part of 2016 when he would have completed his six-year term on the board. Accordingly, a process to select a new chairman has been underway for some time and it would be inappropriate to comment further until this has been concluded.”