It was the Rock’s “prospects for dramatic economic growth” which persuaded Scots-born, but Jersey trained, Kenny MacLean to switch to the Rock after being head-hunted by the RBS head of corporate banking in Gibraltar, Marvin Cartwright. “I see the Rock having a very rosy future and I want to be part of it,” he said soon after his arrival at the end of January.

MacLean joined RBS in Jersey 12 years ago after obtaining a degree in sociology and economics from Plymouth University, starting out in the bank’s personal credit section before becoming a corporate relationship assistant and, later, relationship manager in Jersey, London and Zurich.

As a corporate relationship manager he was responsible for the needs of about 100 of the bank’s clients. However, much of his work was as a “corporate transactor” - preparing and handling individual deals, many of them complicated, for major clients.
“I grew up in Jersey and, after graduating wanted to return there…and on Jersey there are few serious occupations other than in banking,” MacLean explains his decision to join RBS. “Obviously my studies of economics were useful in gaining a post, but since then I’ve often also found my knowledge of sociology to be a bonus.”

Strictly speaking, MacLean is no newcomer to the Rock. Over the past five years he has visited Gibraltar several times and has also worked at a distance to help the local corporate division.

“I feel that I already know and understand the market place,” he says of the local banking sector. “In the past I was providing transaction assistance as a sort of ‘back room boy’. There will be very much more of a frontline focus in my new role.”

“His in-put has been extremely useful and we’re delighted to have Kenny join us on a permanent basis,” Cartwright said. “We are looking for him to fill a specialized niche within the relationship team.” .