Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc have announced the appointment of Sir Thomas Scholar as an independent non-executive director and chair designate. Scholar has joined the board with immediate effect and will succeed William Vereker as chair of both companies on 1 August, at which point Vereker will stand down from the board.

Scholar is a former senior civil servant who spent the majority of his career with HM Treasury at the centre of the UK economic and financial system, including serving as second permanent secretary during the financial crisis and, latterly, as permanent secretary for six years to 2022.

Scholar also spent six years at the IMF and World Bank from 2001 to 2007 and served as the chief of staff and principal private secretary to the prime minister in 2007-2008.

Scholar is currently chair of Nomura International plc, Nomura Bank International plc and Nomura (Europe) Holdings plc.

Santander Group’s executive chair, Ana Botín, thanked William Vereker for his contribution said: “Tom’s experience and insight from his time in Whitehall, the IMF, and the World Bank will be of huge value, and I am delighted to welcome him to Santander UK.

“He joins us at an exciting time for the UK business as we continue to drive forward our transformation programme and integrate Santander UK with the group’s global platforms.”