Santander UK today announces the appointment of Elaine Thomas as Chief Human Resources Officer.
She will be responsible for developing and leading the bank’s people strategy, delivering on Santander’s ambition to be one of the best companies to work for in the UK, with a truly diverse and inclusive workforce that have the right skills for the future.
Her remit will include capability and culture, diversity and inclusion, reward and performance, people transformation, HR digitalisation, operations and business partnering, talent and learning, recruitment, succession, and employee relations.
Elaine has over 25 years HR experience. Her most recent role was at Refinitiv, one of the world’s largest providers of data and information systems to companies across global financial markets, where she was Global Head of People Solutions and Service Delivery.
Prior to this, she was Global Head of Human Resources for the Technology division of media company Thomson Reuters. She started her HR career at the Wallis Fashion Group and then spent 13 years in a variety of HR roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the UK, US and Asia.
Elaine will join the company on 1 February 2021, reporting to Tony Prestedge, Santander UK Deputy CEO, and Amaya Cesaro, Head of HR for Europe and Corporate and Investment Banking. She will join the UK Executive Committee and Santander’s HR leadership team for Europe.
Tony Prestedge, Santander UK Deputy CEO said: “I am very pleased to welcome Elaine to the team. She brings a unique blend of experience across the retail, banking, technology, information, data and analytics industries, both in the UK and internationally. She will be a huge asset as we deliver our ambitious transformation programme and continue to build Santander’s position as a world-class employer, with an inclusive culture where all of our colleagues can feel empowered to succeed.”
Elaine Thomas said: “I am excited to be joining an organisation with such diverse and talented people and a strong international presence. I am looking forward to working with Tony, Amaya and the team to deliver the bank’s bold change agenda and make Santander an outstanding place to work.”
In 2020 Santander was awarded Top Employer status in the UK for the fifth year running. The international research undertaken annually by the Top Employers Institute recognises organisations that have dedicated themselves to providing the very best working environment for employees through their progressive ‘people-first’ HR practices. Santander also achieved Great Place to Work accreditation, with Excellence in Wellbeing 2020-2021.
- Ends -
The information contained in our press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.
Notes to Editors
Photo available on request
Career history
2018 – 2019 REFINITIV
Global Head People Solutions and Service Delivery
2012 – 2018 THOMSON REUTERS
2016 – 2018 Global Head of Human Resources for Technology
2012 – 2015 Global Head of Human Resources for Corporate Technology
2010 – 2012 BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH
2011 – 2012 Global Head of Human Resources for Global Markets Chief Financial Officer
2010 – 2011 EMEA Head of Human Resources for Global Markets
1999 – 2009 MERRILL LYNCH
2008 – 2009 Global Head of Human Resources for Technology
2006 – 2008 Pac Rim Head of Human Resources for Corporate and Enterprise, Regional Head of Human Resources for Technology and Operations
2004 – 2006 Human Resources Director, Fixed Income - Merrill Lynch International
2003 – 2004 Human Resources Manager, European Employee Enquiry and Service Team
2001 – 2002 Human Resources Manager, Enterprise Technology
1999 – 2000 Human Resource Generalist, Chief Financial Office
2000 – 2001 T-MOTION
Human Resources Manager
1996 – 1999 WALLIS FASHION GROUP
1998 – 1999 Recruitment Manager, Deputy to Head of Human Resources
1996 – 1998 Human Resource Officer, South East and Head Office
Non-Executive Directorships
2016– present The Kemnal Academies Trust
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2020, the bank had around 23,000 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, via a nationwide branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain. It has a meaningful presence in 10 core markets in Europe and the Americas, and is one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. Its purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising over €120 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2025, as well as financially empowering more than 10 million people over the same period. At the end of the first half of 2020, Banco Santander had more than a trillion euros in total funds, 146 million customers, of which 21.5 million are loyal and 40 million are digital, 11,800 branches and 194,000 employees.