United Colleges Group was delighted to welcome Diana Brightmore‑Armour, Chief Executive Officer of C. Hoare & Co. Bank, to City of Westminster College for an inspiring talk to Business & Accounting students.

C. Hoare & Co. is Britain’s oldest privately owned bank; Diana made history when she became the first female CEO there, having joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in 2020 before stepping into the role of CEO in 2021.

With over three decades of experience in international banking and corporate finance, Diana has held a number of senior leadership positions across the financial sector. Her previous roles include CEO for UK and Europe at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and CEO of Corporate Banking at Lloyds Banking Group. She began her career at Coca‑Cola, demonstrating the breadth of experience that has shaped her leadership journey.

During her visit, Diana spoke about her career pathway, the challenges and opportunities within global finance, and the importance of resilience, curiosity and continuous learning. Students were encouraged to ask questions and think ambitiously about their futures.

We are grateful to Diana for delivering such a motivating and memorable experience for our learners.