Edward Twiddy, a co-founder of Atom Bank and chair of venture capital investment firm Northstar Ventures, is among three top level appointments to the board of directors at the Treasury
Prominent North East business figure Edward Twiddy has been appointed to an advisory role by the Chancellor. Mr Twiddy, a co-founder of Atom Bank and chair of venture capital investment firm Northstar Ventures, is among three top-tier appointments to the board of directors at the Treasury.
Mr Twiddy is set to assume his position at the start of September and will serve an initial three-year term. The appointment signifies a return to the Treasury for Mr Twiddy, who was seconded from his role as deputy director of Local Government and Regions at the Government department in 2012 to become the inaugural director of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.
He oversaw the LEP’s early efforts to stimulate growth across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland. He departed that role in 2014 to become Atom Bank’s chief innovation officer, joining finance entrepreneur Anthony Thomson and former First Direct CEO Mark Mullen.
Atom became the UK’s first digital-only bank to be granted a UK regulatory licence and has since attracted investment from BBVA, Toscafund and Infinity Investments Partners. In 2023, the Durham-based bank – which is due to relocate to new headquarters in Newcastle – reported its first operating profit.
Mr Twiddy is joining the Treasury board alongside former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield and economist and journalist Jenny Scott, who has previously held senior positions at the BBC and Bank of England. The three will serve as non-executive directors, bringing their business knowledge and expertise to help the Treasury operate as effectively as possible, reports Business Live.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Sir Charlie Mayfield, Edward Twiddy and Jenny Scott to the board, as we build on our partnership working with business. Between them, they bring a huge amount of experience and fresh thinking. Their insights will be invaluable as we focus on growing the economy to deliver for working people as part of our Plan for Change.”
Sir Charlie contributes over two decades of private sector experience plus seven years in the public sector as chairman of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. According to the Treasury, he offers leadership skills and expertise in managing change whilst developing talent and capabilities.
Meanwhile, Ms Scott helped shape and direct communications at the Bank of England throughout the financial crisis and Brexit referendum, before establishing communications advisory firm Apella Advisors in 2019. She previously worked as economics correspondent for the BBC and co-presented BBC2’s The Daily Politics programme with Andrew Neil.
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