Dear Friends & Colleagues,

After fifteen exciting, rewarding and wonderful years, It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to call time on my career with the Bank. This hasn't been an easy decision, but one that I have come to after careful thought and consideration. Essentially my decision boiled down to one reason: It’s time to disrupt myself and find a new mountain to climb.

I joined the Bank as a graduate in London, attracted to a company brimming with ambition that came from a rich history, strong values and the conviction of being at the right place at the right time. What I thought would be a couple of years turned into the longest relationship I have had baring my parents and sister (Shona, my wife, finally has six years to catch up ☺). Looking back, I'm so incredibly proud to have been part of the transformation of this wonderful franchise and for the last six years contributed to the story by leading our digital channels from breakdown to breakthrough. What we went on to achieve far exceeded my (and I dare say our) wildest expectations as we built, innovated and created the largest, fastest growing and most loved channels for our Clients.

I am particularly proud for the passion, purpose and people we were able to develop and inject into the Bank. Taking a small team and building a truly global function that epitomized “One Bank” and has, for the last three years running, been recognized for creating the “World’s Best Internet Bank.” At the same time not forgetting the beautiful basics — keeping a clean sheet on governance and arguably the most disciplined and prolific project management record in the Bank. Most importantly, we did this all while having a lot of fun, something that is becoming less common in our industry, staying true to our motto that “boring people don't build great experiences.”

Driving transformational change also means occasionally ruffling feathers and for those whom I may have frustrated, harangued and argued with over the years, please accept my apologies. I hope you understand I have always been driven by doing what is right by the Brand and our Clients.

What’s next for me? I have a few irons in the fire including some entrepreneurial aspirations which I look forward to sharing with you as they materialise. Meanwhile I am also using this time to try and lose some of the excess baggage I've accumulated on our journey and spend time with family as I plan the next chapter of my career.

As I've always said to those who've left my team, including the 11 entrepreneurs we've minted so far, “you don’t leave the Bank, you just become an alumnus”. As I become the latest alumnus on Aug 1, please know this — I will always stay your biggest fan, harshest critic and trusted advisor (should you need one).

Wishing you every success. Stay Awesome!

Aman

PS. I wanted to end with a video and a quote. The first, freshly made, beautifully captures what we have done with our digital channels.

The second, I read while travelling recently in Cambodia, a country I would never have known had I not worked for the Bank and lived in South East Asia. I think it captures the emotion of leaving this fabulous franchise and its beautiful people;

“Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant.”

Hunter S. Thompson

P.P.S. If you can't find me online, shame on me☺ But for those looking for more traditional ways my mobile number stays the same and my personal email is aman.narain@gmail.com