We Are The City | Feature Profile
- Lindsey Schlandt
- May 21
- 1 min read
WEARETHECITY.COM — Dame Alison Rose is the former Chief Executive of NatWest Group plc, where she spent over three decades shaping the future of British banking. Starting as a graduate, she rose through the ranks to lead major divisions—including Commercial & Private Banking—before becoming the first woman to head one of the UK’s top banks.
Beyond her executive leadership, Alison plays a prominent role in shaping economic policy and inclusion. She co-leads the UK government’s Rose Review Board, sits on the Institute of International Finance Board of Directors, and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council. She also serves as Vice-Chair of Business in the Community, is a Non-Executive Director at Great Portland Estates plc, and supports philanthropic work through the Coutts Charitable Foundation.
A passionate advocate for gender equity in business, she urges both public and private sectors to expand early-stage funding, support young female entrepreneurs, and build lasting opportunities for women-led ventures. As Alison notes, if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it could add £250 billion to the UK economy.
Her contributions were formally recognized when she was named Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List.
