Britain’s oldest privately owned lender is to appoint a former Lloyds Banking Group executive as the first female boss in its 349-year history.

Sky News has learnt that C Hoare & Co has picked Diana Brightmore-Armour, one of its existing board members, as its next chief executive.

Ms Brightmore-Armour, whose previous roles also include running the European branches of Australia’s ANZ Bank, is to replace Steven Cooper.

Her formal appointment is understood to be awaiting regulatory approval.

Once confirmed, Ms Brightmore-Armour will become one of barely a handful of British banks to be run by women.

The current crop of female chiefs includes Alison Rose, who is early in her tenure at the helm of NatWest Group; Debbie Crosbie, who runs TSB; and Anne Boden, the founder of Starling Bank.

Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia stepped down as the boss of Virgin Money after it completed its merger with the owner of the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks.

Founded by Richard Hoare in 1672, C Hoare has remained in family ownership ever since.

Mr Cooper resigned last November to run Aldermore, a bigger – and much younger – company.

C Hoare & Co has an illustrious board, which includes several members of the founding family and is chaired by Lord Macpherson, former permanent secretary to the Treasury.

A spokesman for the lender declined to comment.

Related posts:

Jet2 suspends flights and holidays until late June due to uncertainty over government travel plans Stanlow refinery owner hit by legal resignations amid governance row Kwarteng fills BEIS board vacancy with ex-FT chief Hill Fintech giant Wise to unveil long-awaited listing US giant REEF Technology tables bid to park next to NCP Inflation rates, quantum computing and coronavirus restrictions Sainsbury’s to encourage shoppers to keep wearing face coverings Saudi state fund buys McLaren stake in £550m deal Era of feeding a family of four with a £3 chicken coming to an end, says poultry boss Overseas butchers and abattoir workers to be granted six-month visas to deal with pig backlog AstraZeneca, Toshiba, and happy staff Why Toshiba and Johnson & Johnson are the latest corporate behemoths doing the splits