British Business Bank Appoints Kristen McLeod CBE as its Chief Strategy Officer

People Moves
25.04.2024 12:25 pm

The British Business Bank has appointed Kristen McLeod CBE as its new Chief Strategy Officer, effective from September 2024.

Kristen joins the British Business Bank from HM Treasury, where she has served as Advisor to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Growth, Investment and Business since October 2022. That role involves supporting the Chancellor to develop his growth strategy for the UK economy.

Prior to this, Kristen served as the Director of the Office for Life Sciences for the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Health and Social Care, reporting to two Secretaries of State with responsibility spanning policy on NHS innovation to industrial strategy for life sciences.

Kristen’s 19-year career in the civil service has included roles as Senior Responsible Officer for the UK Testing Programme which set up the UK’s Covid PCR testing network; Director of Strategy, Performance and Planning at the Department of Health and Social Care; and Principal Private Secretary (Chief of Staff) to the Secretary of State for Health.

Kristen was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 for services to life sciences and holds a degree in History and French from University College London.

Kristen McLeod commented: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to drive the strategic direction of the British Business Bank in partnership with the Shareholder, Board and Executive. I look forward to leading the policy, strategy and economics teams, working with the business to deliver the Bank’s strategic objectives of driving sustainable growth, backing innovation, unlocking potential, and working to build the modern, green economy.”

Louis Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, British Business Bank said: “It is great to welcome Kristen as our new Chief Strategy Officer. As a senior and respected civil servant and advisor to the Chancellor, Kristen brings a wealth of relevant experience to the British Business Bank to support our contribution to the UK’s growth strategy, and I look forward to working with her as a key member of our Executive team.”