OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Our Board

Our Board consists of our Trustee, our CEO, and three non-executive directors (NEDs), as well as an observer from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Together they provide support and guidance to our Executive Committee, drawing on their collective expertise to challenge strategic decisions, monitor company performance and oversee strong governance.

Our Executive Committee (ExCo)

Our ExCo consists of our CEO and six directors who work together to ensure that OBL is equipped to successfully deliver open banking both operationally and strategically.

They also oversee the organisation’s transition to a Future Entity, supporting the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC), to ensure the UK continues to maintain its world-leading position in open banking.

Board of Directors

Marion King, Chair and Trustee, Open Banking Limited

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.

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.

Jeremy Newman, NED, Open Banking Limited

Jeremy Newman
Senior iNED

Jeremy was appointed to the OBL Board as its first iNED in October 2021 to help strengthen the governance of the organisation.

An experienced business leader with a portfolio of roles in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, he has helped CEOs and Boards in a wide range of organisations deliver tangible results and empower their people.

Jeremy spent more than 30 years at accountancy firm BDO LLP, moving from Trainee to Global CEO. He was previously Chair of the Audit Commission, and is currently a Panel Member at the Competition and Markets Authority.

Mary Beth Christie, Non Executive Director, OBL

Mary Beth Christie
iNED

Mary Beth (MB), a former Chief Product Officer and Chief Operating Officer, brings to the Board over 25 years’ experience in digital product, tech, data and operations across several sectors, including insuretch, media, travel, property and e-commerce.

As well as the OBL board, Mary Beth sits on the boards of MoneySupermarket Group PLC, Social Finance Limited, and We Are OneTech Ltd.

Claudio Pollack, NED, Open Banking Limited

Claudio Pollack
iNED

Claudio was appointed to the OBL board in March 2023 to strengthen the organisation as it continues to transition, bringing significant regulatory, competition and consumer policy expertise to the Board.

He is an independent consultant advising on policy and advocacy in regulated industries, with particular focus on consumer engagement and protection, inclusion and vulnerability, and on competition policy.

Prior to that, Claudio spent over a decade at telecommunications regulator Ofcom, as well as being part of the team at Cable and Wireless which successfully advocated for measures to tackle obstacles to competition in the telecomms sector.

Our Executive Committee (ExCo)

Henk Van Hulle
CEO

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.

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.

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.

Gary Lowe, Finance Director, OBL

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.

Debbie Lombard, People & HR Director

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.