Profile Type: Executive Committee

Home \ Leadership team \ Melanie Lazarus

Melanie Lazarus

Ecosystem Engagement Director

Mel joined OBL in April 2025 to oversee the evolution of a comprehensive engagement strategy with the open banking ecosystem of banks, fintechs, tech providers, trade bodies, major schemes and regulators.

She is responsible for stakeholder relationship management, brand development, thought leadership, digital engagement and customer insights.  She will also play a pivotal role in supporting OBL’s transition to a future entity.

Mel brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services and consumer tech space. Prior to joining OBL, she was Brand & Marketing Strategy Director for Barclaycard Payments, building brand profile and customer engagement with the corporate and small business segments. She has also held strategic marketing leadership positions at Sky, O2 and Samsung.

Home \ Leadership team \ Raj Sanghera

Raj Sanghera

Director of Product and Operations

Raj is responsible for the development and maintenance of the infrastructure underpinning secure data exchange within the open banking ecosystem.

As part of his role, Raj drives product development and innovation, ensuring the UK continues to remain at the forefront of the open banking revolution, as well as maintaining robust, resilient and secure technical operations.

Raj joins OBL having spent his previous career across both traditional finance and fintech environments, including cross-border banking, launching a new UK digital bank, and scaling up an international payments business.

Home \ Leadership team \ Luke Ryder

Luke Ryder

Director of Standards, Strategic Policy and Public Affairs

Luke is the Director of Standards, Strategic Policy and Public Affairs at Open Banking Limited (OBL). He is responsible for shaping the organisation’s strategy, helping to deliver mass adoption of open banking enabled products and services in the UK, and supporting regulatory and government stakeholders in the development of a sustainable policy environment.

As part of his role, Luke oversees the Open Banking Standard, aiding participant firms in growing the open banking ecosystem. He is also accountable for OBL’s monitoring function, ensuring conformance of the CMA9 with the CMA Order; and manages OBL’s Public Affairs activity, coordinating external engagement with Government, political, and regulatory stakeholders.

Prior to joining OBL, Luke spent 12 years at Barclays in various roles, including: Head of Government Relations and Policy for its Retail, Payments, and Wealth businesses; Head of Strategic Affairs; and Chief of Staff to the Chairman. He began his career in the UK civil service.

Home \ Leadership team \ Debbie Lombard

Debbie Lombard

People & HR Director

Debbie joined OBL in February 2022 to focus on developing the organisation’s people proposition, and enhance human resources (HR) practices and workplace culture.

She oversees a wide range of HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, compensation and benefits, and diversity and inclusion, to align with the organisation’s strategic goals.

Prior to joining OBL, Debbie spent more than 15 years as the Chief HR Officer at Vocalink, a Mastercard company, where she played a key role in developing the company’s HR strategy and aligning it with Vocalink’s overall business goals.

Home \ Leadership team \ Gary Lowe

Gary Lowe

Finance Director

Gary joined OBL in June 2022 to oversee the organisation’s finances, supplier management and procurement.

He is responsible for the OBL’s financial controls, procurement, and supplier management, as well as the Programme Management Office and Change teams.

Gary brings over 15 years of senior executive experience in IT and security technology-related industries, after starting his career in financial services at EY.

As a chartered accountant and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, he developed his financial expertise in both private and publicly listed environments.

Home \ Leadership team \ Mark Bishop

Mark Bishop

Legal/Risk/Controls Assurance Director

Mark joined OBL in 2019 to support the delivery of the CMA Roadmap, focusing on security, counter fraud and supplier management.

He leads the Legal, Enterprise Risk Management and Monitoring teams at the organisation and provides second line defence oversight to the Board and external stakeholders, including the CMA and CMA9, to ensure the organisation remains resilient as it transitions to a Future Entity.

Prior to joining OBL, Mark was Chief Risk Officer at Vocalink, a Mastercard company, where he was instrumental in facilitating the change of ownership to Mastercard. Mark has also held senior risk and governance roles at Barclays.

Home \ Leadership team \ Danh Nguyen

Danh Nguyen

General Counsel

Danh joined OBL as General Counsel in March 2024 to oversee the Legal and Regulatory function.

He and his team of legal professionals provide legal advice and guidance to all departments on the application of laws and regulations relevant to OBL’s operations. They support regulatory compliance and outreach initiatives, assist in contract drafting, negotiation and review, and support the resolution of legal disputes and customer complaints.

In addition, he advises the Board on effective governance, regulatory compliance and other strategic matters impacting the organisation’s operations, particularly as it enters the next phase of its evolution.

Before joining OBL, Danh held several leadership positions, including as Group General Counsel of fintech firm, Paysend, and General Counsel for Western Union (APAC).

Home \ Leadership team \ Richard Newman

Richard Newman

Corporate Affairs Director

Richard joined OBL as Chief of Staff in December 2020 to provide dedicated support and advice to the Trustee, Board and CEO, and was subsequently appointed as Corporate Affairs Director to manage all external and internal communications.

He is also responsible for leading the organisation’s stakeholder relations, working closely with MPs, government departments and regulators, to ensure that the UK’s regulatory-driven approach to open banking continues to drive innovation and deliver benefits to consumers and businesses.

Prior to this, he was Head of Regulatory Relations and External Affairs at the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, and VP of Regulatory Relations at Barclays. He has also held press office and secretariat roles at the Bank of England and the Prudential Regulation Authority and was an advisor in the European Parliament and House of Commons.

Home \ Leadership team \ Marion King

Marion King

Chair and Trustee

Marion was appointed Chair and Trustee of OBL in February 2023. Her priorities are to maintain and protect the CMA Order, and work with key stakeholders and the JROC, to promote the adoption and growth of open banking.

She will oversee the transition to a Future Entity that will be at the heart of the transformation to an economically sustainable and scalable open banking ecosystem.

She has a portfolio of non-executive positions including Non-Executive Director at Bibby Financial Services and Chair of the Payments Association Advisory Board. She is also a member of Pennies Payments Advisory Board  and a trustee of the MS Society.

Marion was previously Director of Payments at NatWest Group and President of MasterCard UK & Ireland. Prior to that she was the Chief Executive Officer of Vocalink – a specialist payments partner to banks, corporate partners and government departments

Home \ Leadership team \ Henk Van Hulle

Henk Van Hulle

CEO

Henk was appointed CEO in January 2022 to implement an effective and appropriate governance and management framework for the organisation, and to manage the delivery of the CMA Roadmap and the operations of OBL.

He is now leading the next phase of the development of open banking as it moves to a new regulatory framework and Future Entity.

Henk joined OBL from Post Office Ltd, where he had over nine years’ experience in senior roles in innovation, including Managing Director of Digital Services and as Deputy CEO, Financial Services and Telecoms.

He has considerable expertise in managing profitable, consumer-focused blue chip and start-up firms, including senior roles at Egg PLC, Prudential UK, and Belgian internet bank Beobank.