Nicola Kelham

Head of Channels & Transformation, Cater Allen @Santander

Appointed to lead bank wide change delivery for Cater Allen. Promoted to oversee the core banking, digital, payments, cards, and open banking channels, reflecting expanded strategic responsibility. Accountable for aligning transformation with business strategy, customer needs and regulatory requirements. Lead multi-disciplinary teams and third-party partners across complex portfolios.Leadership & Governance:• Define and execute transformation and channel strategies aligned to regulatory, customer, operational and commercial objectives.• Lead the change portfolio: strategic planning, investment governance, resource mobilisation, risk oversight, and board reporting.•Serve as Portfolio Lead to the Enterprise PMO; present strategic business cases to Investment Committees and Cater Allen Board.• Establish robust portfolio governance and controls, ensuring dependency management, delivery assurance, and regulatory compliance.• Primary business liaison with FCA, CMA, PSR and OBIE; accountable for communicating programme status against compliance obligations.Transformation Delivery & Commercial Oversight:• Oversee change and BAU budgets; ensure commercial alignment and value delivery.• Direct cross-functional delivery teams and external vendors to execute complex, high-impact initiatives.Key Achievements:• Expanded role to include strategic ownership of channels portfolio (core banking, digital, payments, open banking).• Designed and embedded a transformation portfolio model, driving structured, outcome-led change.• Introduced a new Product Management model, accelerating time-to-market and enhancing accountability.• Successfully led critical regulatory programmes (Consumer Duty, PSD2, GDPR, FATCA, CMA Remedies), consistently meeting board and regulator expectations.• Selected for Santander UK’s Talent Boosters leadership programme; rated “exceptional” performer (2023 & 2024).