Chetwood Bank appoints Melanie Czarra as non-executive director and risk committee chair

Chetwood Bank has appointed Melanie Czarra as a non-executive director and chair of the board risk committee, the bank said. Czarra replaces Duncan Martin, who steps down from the role in December after a six-year tenure. Finextra reported the appointment.

Czarra's Banking Career And Board Roles

Czarra brings more than 30 years of experience in global investment banking and corporate finance to Chetwood Bank. She began her career on Wall Street at Chemical Bank, now JP Morgan, and later held executive roles at Goldman Sachs & Co, Citi, UBS Investment Bank and Mizuho International. After retiring from banking, she founded and led three SMEs in luxury goods, retail and hospitality.

Czarra sits on the boards of two housing associations, Abri Group and Vectis Housing Association, and was recently appointed as an independent member of the remuneration committee of Scotiabank. She said: "My responsibilities include reviewing our risk management framework to ensure we understand risk and mitigating excessive risk whilst taking appropriate risk opportunities to grow the business."

Paul Noble, CEO of Chetwood Bank, said: "We're thrilled to welcome someone of Melanie's calibre to our board and as chair of our risk committee." Noble also thanked Duncan Martin for his contribution to the bank's growth and diversification over the past six years.

Chetwood Bank's Wholesale Banking Division

Chetwood Bank launched a new Wholesale Banking division in June 2026, according to akta.pro company records. The division offers tailored lending to corporates, institutions and specialist lending customers, and is led by MD Alex Grove, CRE Director Toby Sharp and MD of Wholesale Risk Nirvan Sunderam. The bank said the division aims to support strategic growth, diversify income and make disciplined use of capital.

The same records show Chetwood Bank reported a £1 billion increase in deposits in December 2025. The bank operates multiple brands under a single banking licence, including Chetwood Bank, ModaMortgages, BetterBorrow, LiveLend, SmartSave, Wave and Yobota.

Board Changes Across Financial Services

CSTS Enterprises appointed Timothy Murphy as General Counsel, effective immediately, PR Newswire reported on October 15, 2026. Murphy, a New York-based lawyer with over two decades of experience, previously founded Coal Harbour Law.

Fivespan Partners gained board seats at Stride Inc., an online education company, American City Business Journals reported on October 14, 2026. Malakoff Humanis will hold an extraordinary board meeting to decide on the departure of CEO Thomas Saunier, Les Echos reported on October 14, 2026.

Martin's December Departure

Duncan Martin officially steps down from the role in December 2026 after a six-year tenure with Chetwood Bank, the bank said.