LHV Bank appoints Damian Thompson as CEO – Mortgage Strategy
LHV Bank has appointed Damian Thompson as chief executive officer and executive director. He will join the bank on 4 January 2027, subject to regulatory approval. He will lead the next stage of growth for the digital-first bank, with a focus on expanding lending, particularly to SMEs.
Thompson has more than 30 years of experience across UK banking, structured finance and financial services. After almost two decades in senior roles at NatWest Markets, he joined Starling Bank’s executive team, where he was responsible for lending and asset management as the bank scaled.
Under his leadership, Starling’s loan assets grew to more than £5bn, largely across mortgages and SME lending. He also served as CEO of Fleet Mortgages, Starling’s buy-to-let lender. He later took responsibility for Starling’s SME banking products, retail overdrafts and loan products.
Until this year, Thompson also chaired UK Finance’s Specialist Banks Advisory Forum, which represents banks outside the UK’s big five.
Commenting on his appointment, Thompson said: “LHV Bank has strong foundations for its next phase of growth: advanced technology, the backing of a Group with a sustained record of profitable growth, and a clear ambition to expand its lending.”
He added: “The opportunity to lead a bank with that tech advantage through rapid growth while maintaining the highest standards of risk management and regulatory compliance is compelling. I look forward to working with the UK team and colleagues across the Group to lead LHV Bank into its next chapter.”
