U.K.-based fintech titan, Revolut, has named Francesca Carlesi as the new CEO of its U.K. operations. Meanwhile, Nik Storonsky will continue his tenure as the CEO of the groups. Despite being a leading name in the financial sector, Revolut is struggling to secure a U.K. banking license.
Francesca joins from Molo, UK’s first fully digital mortgage lender, where she was founder and CEO. Prior experience in banking includes senior roles at Deutsche Bank and Barclays, as well as at McKinsey & Co. and Bridgepoint Capital.
She holds a PhD in Banking and Finance from the University of Rome, an MBA (Hons) from Columbia University and a Diploma from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The new head of the Revolut UK business spent more than 15 years in the financial industry across a range of sectors including private equity, retail and commercial banking, investment banking and asset and wealth management.
Carlesi will officially assume her role at Revolut in December, filling the shoes of James Radford who departed in March.
This appointment follows shortly after the resignation of Kitty Ussher, former economic secretary to the Treasury and an ex-MP, from Revolut’s UK board.
However, transitioning to Barclays, Ussher expressed her fond memories with Revolut in a recent LinkedIn post, reminiscing about her rewarding four-year tenure.
With a 35+ million global customers, Revolut enjoys a strong presence in countries like Romania and Poland, with Central and Eastern Europe witnessing rapid growth. Nevertheless, the U.K. remains its primary market.
