Atom bank appoints Ayshea Robertson as Chief People Officer

Atom bank, the UK’s first app-only bank, has appointed Ayshea Robertson as its new Chief People Officer (CPO).

Ayshea joins from Zen Internet, the internet service provider, where she spent six years as CPO and Board Director. She has significant experience leading HR functions within a wide range of businesses over the course of her career, including at Bellway Homes, Technology Services Group and Newcastle Building Society.

In her role, Ayshea will drive innovation and performance to ensure that Atom bank remains one of the most innovative and best places to work in the UK. Two years ago Atom introduced a four day working week with no reduction in salary and today still achieves consistently high employee engagement scores, most recently 81% in March 2024.

Ayshea will work with the Executive Committee and People Experience team to deliver a high quality employee journey, and will oversee Atom’s recruitment strategy, ensuring it attracts and retains the highest calibre of talent. A key focus will be on the continued expansion of Atom’s initiatives in the North East to create opportunities and address the region’s skills gap, overseeing Atom’s programme of internships and mentoring opportunities for local students.

Ayshea’s ability to lead and implement successful employee initiatives and ensure people are at the heart of the organisational strategy will be crucial for Atom, as it enters its next phase of growth as a business.

Ayshea Robertson, CPO at Atom, said: “I’m hugely excited to be joining Atom at a crucial stage of development for the business. I love the purpose, vision and values of Atom - they match my own value set, and being part of a purpose-led business is very important to me.

“Additionally, the fact that Atom is based in the North East gives me the chance to be part of the growth of a local business and the opportunity to give back to the community I live in. My main focus will be building on the great culture, driving performance and making sure the people strategy supports the ambitious objectives the business has.”

Mark Mullen, Chief Executive Officer at Atom, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ayshea to the business as our new Chief People Officer. With extensive experience at an executive level and with a genuine commitment to people, Ayshea comes with excellent credentials and a proven track record across a range of organisations and sectors.

“We see no contradiction between providing excellent service and outstanding value to customers while at the same time ensuring that our people are engaged, motivated and happy. Ayshea’s leadership will be critical to the success of Atom as we drive our cultural renewal programme and continue to make Atom bank one of the best places to work in the UK.”

ENDS

For more details journalists can contact:

For Lansons

Ed Shelley, eds@lansons.com, 07532 093309

Sorcha Hornett, sorchah@lansons.com, 07712 805191

For Atom

Robbie Steel, robbie.steel@atombank.co.uk 07538 775701

About Atom bank

Atom bank is the UK’s first app-based bank, on a mission to make the experience of borrowing and saving faster, simpler and better value than anyone else.

The bank launched operations in April 2016, and offers award-winning mortgages and savings through its app, alongside secured business lending for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Based in the North East of England with a team of over 470 people, Atom is here to ​​change banking for the good, for the better, and for everyone. This means focusing on customers’ needs, delivering better value than the incumbents, providing an exceptional app-based experience and offering award-winning customer support via phone, chat, email and social channels.

Based in Durham, Atom is an engaged and active member of the North East Community. In 2022 Atom signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Durham University to progress key research and diversity initiatives. The region has one of the highest levels of youth unemployment in the UK and Atom is passionate about addressing the critical digital skills gap and helping develop young people and other groups that are under-represented within the industry.

As of November 2021, all employees enjoy a four-day working week, after Atom became the largest company - and only bank - in Britain to introduce the policy, with no reduction in salary.

The Atom executive team are highly experienced, having built and run some of the most well-respected banks in the UK. CEO Mark Mullen has 30 years’ experience in the sector and was previously CEO at the multi- award-winning telephone and internet bank first direct. The team is supported by a strong non-exec board, chaired by Lee Rochford.