Our people

Isabelle Girolami, Head of Corporate & Institutional Banking

Responsibilities
Isabelle joined NatWest in June 2025 to lead the Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) business. CIB serves the needs of our largest and most complex customers across the Commercial & Institutional franchise, encompassing large corporates, funds, sponsors and financial institutions. As the Head of CIB, Isabelle will lead our strategy of disciplined growth, simplification and active balance sheet and risk management for this vital part of our franchise.

Previous experience
Isabelle has built an impressive career in banking, global markets, and markets infrastructure in a broad range of leadership roles. Prior to joining NatWest, she was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The London Clearing House Ltd (LCH) where she was responsible driving the continued expansion of LCH’s services, with a focus on growth and innovation as well as risk management and resilience. Isabelle was also responsible for the post trade division’s sustainability and, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy.

Prior to LCH, Isabelle was the deputy CEO of Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, while also leading Global Markets. She previously spent seven years at Standard Chartered Bank, in London and Singapore, as Co-Head of Wholesale Banking Europe and the Head of Global Markets Europe, before being appointed as the Co-Head of Wholesale Banking Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Head of Financial Markets ASEAN. Her extensive banking career began at BNP Paribas, and subsequently Bear Stearns in various chief operating office roles.

Ritu Sehgal, Managing Director, Head of Transaction Services and Trade

Ritu leads the NatWest Transaction Services and Trade team with a remit to drive business development strategy and profit & loss for corporates and financial institutions (FI) across a payments products suite including digital solutions, trade finance, cash management and cards. Before joining NatWest in April 2022, she had a stint at a cross-border payments start-up as their Chief Commercial Officer leading the UK strategy and launch. Prior to that Ritu led the FI Payments Sales team at Lloyds Bank where she spent over 10 years across FI coverage and transaction banking.

Adam Hanke, Managing Director, Transaction Services - Banks

Adam leads the transaction services business for banks at NatWest, overseeing the strategic development and management of correspondent and agency banking relationships. With over a decade at the bank, he has held senior leadership roles across banks coverage, government banking, and multiple geographies including the UK, Ireland, and Europe. Adam now brings this breadth of experience to a global remit, driving strategic initiatives and championing innovation. He is committed to building trusted, collaborative partnerships and integrating new technologies to enhance capabilities and customer experience.

Brad Freeman - Director, Transaction Services - Banks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Brad is a Relationship Director supporting our transaction banking partnerships across the Europe, Middle East and Africa geography. Brad works in close collaboration with our FI partners with an immediate focus on transaction services, whilst also delivering across the entire NatWest Group platform.

Brad has a wealth of experience from a product, industry, and payments perspective, having joined the NatWest Group as a graduate in 2011.

Prior to his role as a relationship director, Brad operated as a client service manager and project manager. In this capacity he successfully delivered continuous improvement initiatives, product implementations and regulatory change programmes.

Iain Wyper, Director, Transaction Services – Banks Americas

Iain works within our banks coverage transaction banking team and is a relationship director for all FI transaction banking clients in the USA, Canada and Latin America. Iain has extensive experience in the transaction banking arena and over the years has held various leadership roles in both transaction banking sales and account management. He has a proven track record in developing good, strong client relationships with many of the largest and most complex clients and prides himself on delivering a high level of service. 

Daranee Bolger, Relationship Manager, Transaction Services - Banks

Daranee is a relationship manager within NatWest’s transaction services team, responsible for managing transaction banking relationships across Europe.

Since joining the bank in early 2023, she has played a key role in strengthening strategic partnerships with financial institutions, with a particular focus on cash clearing whilst also delivering across NatWest Group.

She brings a strong understanding of the European banking landscape and is passionate about delivering tailored solutions that meet clients’ evolving needs.

Prior to joining NatWest, Daranee held roles in corporate banking and risk and policy advisory in New Zealand.

Graham Woodcock, Relationship Manager, Transaction Services - Banks 

Graham is a relationship manager supporting our transaction banking relationships across a portfolio of countries within the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) geography and has 35 years’ experience looking after FIs, most of that time spent with the EMEA client franchise. Working closely with the EMEA clients, he has helped develop and expand their proprietary solutions to client requirements, enabling them to improve their own customer journey. He now leverages this experience to drive strategic initiatives across correspondent and agency banking, including topics such as fraud prevention. He is dedicated to building strong partnerships, with a commitment to collaboration, trust and innovation, thought leadership to enhance capabilities and customer experience.

Graham works in close collaboration with our FI partners with an immediate focus on cash clearing, whilst also delivering across the entire NatWest Group platform, including trade finance, markets etc. Graham has now been with NatWest Bank for 40 years.

Daniel Eade, Relationship Manager, Transaction Services - Banks

Dan is a relationship manager in transaction banking at NatWest, covering the USA with a focus on correspondent and agency banking. With over 12 years of experience in transaction banking, Dan has supported some of the bank’s most complex corporate and financial institution clients. Known for building trusted partnerships and delivering tailored solutions, he is passionate about helping clients navigate change and unlock growth. At Sibos 2025, Dan looks forward to connecting with customers and exploring how NatWest can better support their strategic ambitions in an evolving global landscape.

Martin Marshall, Relationship Manager, Transaction Services - Banks

Martin manages the Asia–Pacific (APAC) transaction banking business with 30 years experience looking after FIs, and over 15 years managing the APAC client franchise. Working closely with the APAC clients and our NatWest APAC coverage and sales colleagues in London, Europe and Asia, he has helped develop and expand their proprietary solutions to client requirements, enabling them to improve their own customer journey. He now leverages this experience to drive strategic initiatives across correspondent and agency banking. He is dedicated to building strong partnerships, with a commitment to collaboration, trust and innovation, thought leadership, integrating new technologies to enhance capabilities and customer experience. 

Rowan Austin, Managing Director, Head of Trade Finance Origination and Advisory

Along with his team, Rowan is responsible for working with large corporate and FI customers across the UK, Western Europe and the US to deliver working capital solutions supporting domestic and cross-border trade. Rowan is driving NatWest’s presence and capability in the trade and supply chain finance market, with a key focus on innovation, new propositions and business development. Rowan has extensive cross-product and sectoral knowledge. and has worked for four banks across six continents. Rowan started his banking career with Goldman Sachs before joining Barclays and performing roles across corporate, international and investment banking. He then joined Europe Arab Bank, where he built a commodity and trade finance function across Europe and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.

Viresh Mathur, Director, Trade Origination and Advisory

With 26 years of banking experience spanning ABN AMRO, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, I have held various roles across Asia, the Middle East, the UK, Western Europe, and the USA. In his previous position at Royal Bank of Scotland in Singapore, he was responsible for trade sales, trade portfolio management, and syndications.

His background includes significant experience in trade finance. Prior to his tenure in Singapore, he was based in Dubai, where he managed coverage, trade sales, and trade distribution across the Middle East and Asia. Currently, he is a member of the transaction banking trade team, focusing on FI and corporate trade, collaborating closely with numerous FI partners in both primary and secondary trade business.

Ashley Crawford, Assistant Director, Trade Origination and Advisory

Ashley works within the Trade Origination and Advisory team at NatWest, where she works with corporate and FI clients to deliver a range of trade and supply chain finance solutions. Since joining the team in 2023, Ashley has focused on enhancing the bank’s FI trade capabilities across its global FI portfolio, with a particular emphasis on secondary market activities.

Prior to her role at NatWest, Ashley held the position of relationship manager at Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), where she covered a diverse client base comprising both corporates and FIs.

Leah Cann, Cash Management Sales Specialist  

Leah is a cash management sales specialist within NatWest’s transaction services team, responsible for bespoke cash management solutions to FIs and FTSE 100 corporates, enhancing their transaction banking experience through innovative payment solutions and liquidity strategies.

She brings a strong understanding of the UK banking landscape and is passionate about delivering tailored solutions that meet clients’ evolving needs.

Prior to joining NatWest, Leah was supporting Commerzbank’s cash management team, in her role as apprentice – and then graduate – gaining her bachelor’s degree whilst working full time. 

Monika Tarr, Head of Banks Coverage Americas

Monika Tarr is the Head of Banks Coverage Americas at NatWest, a role she assumed in 2023. Having joined NatWest (then Royal Bank of Scotland) as a graduate in 2004, she now leads efforts to provide NatWest Group products and senior relationship management to FIs across the Americas and Middle East. Monika holds a master’s in international relations from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s in international business with German and Japanese from the European Business School. Her early career focused on debt capital markets and bond syndication, followed by roles in Group Treasury and consulting at Deloitte. Returning to NatWest in 2013, she led the Latin American Bank portfolio and later managed global banking relationships outside Europe. Monika’s expertise spans credit products, asset classes, and funding, making her a crucial part of NatWest’s global banking strategy. 

Neha Jhanji, Director, Banks Coverage – Europe

Neha Jhanji leads European Banks Coverage for strategic clients at NatWest, where she is responsible for driving client-centric engagement and cross-functional coordination across the franchise.

She joined NatWest in 2022, initially covering bank relationships within the transaction banking business across the UK and Ireland.

Neha spent a decade (2012–2022) at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a coverage banker within the Financial Institutions Group. Her tenure was marked by deep sector expertise, strategic stakeholder management, and tailored coverage of global banks.

From 2009-2012, Neha held a corporate banking role at Santander UK plc, gaining foundational experience in client coverage and credit solutions.

Milena Sheahan, Head of APAC Banks Coverage

Milena heads up the Asia-Pacific (APAC) banks coverage business within FIs at NatWest. Milena and her team are responsible for leading the delivery of the bank’s APAC coverage strategy for the region, facilitating a connected institutional approach to NatWest’s most strategically valuable clients in the region. Since joining the bank in 2011, Milena has held a number of senior roles across the organisation including across the large corporate, structured finance and FI businesses. Milena’s previous roles across the FI franchise have seen her build up a broad expertise across both the non-bank FI (NBFI) and bank FI marketplaces, including leading a set of complex NBFI clients with a particular focus on UK alternative lenders and UK/European non-performing-loan credit companies. Prior to joining NatWest, Milena started her career in Lloyds Banking Group, working across roles in project finance, including infrastructure and renewables, debt markets and finally prior to leaving, in its global corporate coverage business.

Paula Thistleton, Head of Network Management and Partnerships

Paula leads a team responsible for managing the bank’s external relationships across international cash clearing, securities services, collateral management and digital asset issuance. Her remit also includes driving strategic partnerships for the commercial bank, enabling collaboration with corporate entities across diverse sectors to deliver innovative solutions and enhanced customer value.

With over fifteen years at NatWest, Paula brings deep institutional knowledge and a proven track record in global banking operations and relationship management. Her career in network management began at ABN AMRO, following formative experiences at UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered, where she developed a broad foundation in financial services. Paula’s international perspective and strategic leadership continue to shape NatWest’s approach to global connectivity and partnership-driven growth.

Sarah Javid, Journey Developer

Sarah Javid is a journey developer at NatWest, focussing on correspondent banking, indirect access and international payments within the Commercial & Institutional business. Based in Manchester, Sarah has been with the bank 15 years and plays a key role in shaping digital experiences that empower customers to take control of their financial wellbeing. With a background in payments and customer-centric design, she brings a sharp focus on innovation, operational efficiency, and inclusive service delivery. At Sibos 2025, Sarah is excited to connect with peers across the industry to explore the future of digital banking and share insights from NatWest’s transformation journey.

Ray Zabarte, ISO 20022 Business Lead

Ray Zabarte is our ISO 20022 Business Lead for the commercial bank which includes banks, corporates and business banking. With a career in banking spanning more than 30 years, Ray has a wealth of experience leading cross-functional teams through complex transformation programmes, bridging the gap between business strategy and technical execution.

Ray’s been with NatWest for over a decade with leadership roles in global transaction services, trade, commercial products and as Chief Operating Officer at Tyl for NatWest.

In his current role, Ray leads the team responsible for all critical ISO 20022-related changes within Commercial & Institutional. This includes ensuring operational and business readiness, regulatory compliance, and customer impact management. A core part of his remit is to ensure that customers are fully informed and supported throughout the move to ISO 20022 and our new payments engine.

Mark Brant, Chief Payments Officer, NatWest Group

As Chief Payments Officer for NatWest Group, Mark is responsible for setting the payments strategy, industry relations, operations, developing new payment solutions and fostering innovation. He leads the Group Payments ExCo, with responsibility for the broad payments landscape, from cash and A2A payments, through to open banking, cards, digital wallets and identity.

With an extensive 25-year background in payments and fintech, Mark brings a wealth of domestic and international experience across retail and B2B payments. Alongside senior leadership positions at American Express and PayPal, Mark was Chief Executive at ParentPay Group, a leader in payment solutions for education and schools.

Ian Povey, Chief Information Officer, Payments Services and Technology

Ian is accountable for the run, change and continuous availability of all payments technology for the NatWest Group, in its capacity as a systemically critical participant in the industry. Ian is focused on the modernisation and compliance of the technology estate, collaborating with the business to continuously improve each customer journey.

Ian joined the Swift global board of directors in 2022 and has served on the board of Archa Ltd, an Australian-based fintech, and on the board and as a trustee of Charities Trust in the UK. Ian was previously Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Payments for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. A key deliverable being the build and delivery of Australia’s instant New Payments Platform (NPP) where Ian was also a member of the New Payments Platform Australia Board.

A career dedicated globally to payments, Ian has worked for PayPal, and organisations spanning different participant sectors from government, retail, telecoms and public transportation. 

Simon Eacott, Head of Payments

Simon possesses extensive expertise in the payments industry, specialising in leading strategic transformation initiatives, transaction banking, operations, and product management.

As Head of Payments at NatWest Group, he oversees the execution of the core payments strategy, encompassing product, industry and scheme management, operations, and innovation.

Widely recognised and respected within the payments sector, Simon chairs the Strategic Participants Group supporting the Pay.UK board, serves as Deputy Chair of P20, and sits on the Advisory Board of Pennies, a charity promoting micro-donations.

Jonny Keir, Head of Payments Execution

Jonny Keir leads the delivery of major change across NatWest Group’s payments landscape. His focus is on payments technology for domestic and international markets, ensuring that complex change is delivered reliably, at scale, and in line with shifting customer and regulatory expectations.

With a background in delivery and transformation, Jonny is used to working across teams to tackle legacy challenges, modernise infrastructure, and implement practical, scalable solutions. He’s particularly focused on the operational realities of moving toward an instant and 24/7 and instant payments world – and what that means for architecture, resilience, and service.

Lauran Macaré, Head of Data and Risk, Payments Technology

Lauran leads payments data for NatWest, driving the ownership of data products through a complex architectural stack. She leverages artificial intelligence to transform payments data and optimise front-to-back data flows into strategic assets, ensuring quality and operational integrity throughout the data lifecycle. Before joining NatWest in January 2024, Lauran was at Nationwide Building Society, where she spearheaded technical implementations, including print and digital communication capabilities. Her early career was spent at JP Morgan, gaining extensive experience across the investment bank, securities, and treasury departments, which laid the groundwork for her current expertise in financial technology.

Martin Price, Swift Payments Principal Engineer

Martin Price is a payments specialist at NatWest, responsible for implementing, integrating and maintaining multiple Swift proprietary software products. He is passionate about building efficient, simplified, and resilient customer journeys across both domestic and cross-border payments. Martin stays at the forefront of emerging technologies to ensure solutions are modern, compliant, and secure. With a strong emphasis on regulatory adherence and operational excellence, he supports safe, scalable payment systems. He actively participates in industry forums focused on reducing friction, enhancing interoperability, and expanding customer choice. Martin blends technical expertise, compliance awareness, and strategic insight to shape the future of payment innovation.

Nic Watt, Swift & Sterling Global Solutions Lead

Nic Watt is the Technology Ways of Working Platform Lead at NatWest, with over 20 years of experience spanning technology leadership, production support, and platform and product delivery. Nic currently manages the Swift estate for NatWest and is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to simplify customer journeys, enhance resilience, and drive innovation through AI, automation, and data. With a strong focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement, Nic brings deep expertise in delivering scalable, secure, and efficient solutions that support the bank’s strategic goals.

Damian Richardson, Head of Payments Product and Schemes 

Damian serves as the Head of Payments Product and Schemes in NatWest’s Payments Centre of Excellence. With over 30 years of experience in banking, primarily within payments, he specialises in payments strategy, product management and large programme delivery. He’s currently helping to shape strategic UK payments initiatives and has a proven track record in innovation, transformation and customer-centric design. Formerly Head of Payments Strategy and Innovation at NatWest, he brings expertise in regulatory change, emerging technologies, and impactful product delivery. Damian is recognised for his clarity of vision, leadership, and purpose-driven approach to financial innovation.

Michael Clowes, Head of Clearing and Business Change, Payment Operations

Mike is the head of change for NatWest Group’s payments operations. Mike is leading the operational readiness for ISO 20022 for payment operations, reconciliations and investigations and is managing the operational transition to the new messaging standards. Mike has been with NatWest for 13 years, and has a background of operations management, change and performance improvement consulting.