New chief at First Direct

Matthew Colebrook has become chief executive of First Direct. He joins the bank from HSBC, the parent group, where he had worked for more than 22 years. His most recent position was senior executive supporting the chief executive officer of the UK bank. Chris Pilling, the previous chief executive of First Direct, has moved to a new role as head of direct banking at HSBC.

Investcorp Bahrain post

Investcorp has appointed James Tanner to be head of placement and relationship management, and a member of Investcorp's management committee, in Bahrain. Investcorp's three managing directors in the Gulf will report to Mr Tanner. Previously he has held senior positions at Morley Fund Management, HSBC and Morgan Stanley.

Shore research appointment

Shore Capital Group has recruited Kate Calvert to its consumer research team to cover the general retail sector. In the past Ms Calvert has worked both as an analyst and a specialist saleswoman with Flemings, Morgan Stanley and most recently Merrill Lynch. She has also worked in industry, spending a number of years with Safeway.

SFO anti-corruption head

The Serious Fraud Office has announced that its new head of anti-corruption is Keith McCarthy. It said that Mr McCarthy has been involved in anti-corruption and anti-bribery work for many years and has built up considerable expertise in these areas as well as in proceeds of crime and anti-money laundering.

He has also represented Britain in evaluations and work undertaken by the Financial Action Task Force and is the UK representative at the OECD working party on tax crimes and money laundering.

Lomax on SAIC board

The Scottish American Investment Company has announced that Ms Rachel Lomax has been appointed as a director of the company. Ms Lomax served as deputy governor of the Bank of England between 2003 and 2008, having previously been Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Office. She has also previously held the posts of chief of staff to the President of the World Bank and head of the economic and domestic secretariat at the Cabinet Office.