Starling Bank has announced that OVO Energy chief executive Raman Bhatia will take over as the fintech’s CEO following the departure of founder Anne Boden.
Bhatia, who is currently running the energy retail unicorn, will take over as CEO of Starling from John Mountain, the company’s COO who has been serving as the interim boss since Boden left last year.
Prior to running OVO Energy, Bhatia was head of digital banking for HSBC’s retail and wealth management business in the UK and Europe.
“Starling is a company I have long admired because it believes passionately, like I do, in using the power of technology to do the right thing for its customers and its people,” said Bhatia. “I can’t wait to get started and to see what we can achieve together.”
Founded in 2014, Starling Bank rose to prominence as part of a new wave of challenger banks including Monzo and Atom Bank. It reported its first full year of pre-tax profitability in 2022.
Boden announced she would leave Starling Bank last May, saying it was the “right time” following the company’s record pre-tax profits of £195m. Boden retained her board seat and transitioned to non-executive director.
“I am pleased that in Raman we have found someone who can take Starling into its next phase of growth while cherishing the culture and values we have worked so hard to instil in everything we do,” Boden said.
Since leaving the chief executive role, Boden has chaired the government-appointed independent women-led high-growth enterprise taskforce. The group published a report recommending steps to improve gender diversity in business in February.
