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Anne Boden MBE

Founder and Former CEO of Starling Bank;

Tech Entrepreneur

London, UK

Anne Boden

Anne Boden’s Biography

Anne Boden MBE is a trailblazing Welsh tech entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Starling Bank, one of Britain’s most successful digital banks. From modest beginnings in Swansea to rewriting the rules of UK banking, Anne’s story is one of determination and vision.

After earning a degree in Computer Science and Chemistry, Anne transitioned from science to banking. Her early career included roles at Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered, UBS, ABN Amro, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. As Chief Operating Officer at Allied Irish Banks, she helped steer the bank through its post-crisis recovery.

Frustrated by the failure of traditional banks to embrace new technologies, Anne decided to do something radical: to build a digital-first, customer-focused bank from scratch, and in 2014 she founded Starling Bank.

Despite early challenges, Starling grew rapidly under Anne’s leadership, winning awards such as “Best British Bank” three years in a row and achieving a £2.5 billion valuation by 2022. Starling introduced features such as real-time notifications and budgeting tools, making finance... Anne Boden MBE is a trailblazing Welsh tech entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Starling Bank, one of Britain’s most successful digital banks. From modest beginnings in Swansea to rewriting the rules of UK banking, Anne’s story is one of determination and vision.

After earning a degree in Computer Science and Chemistry, Anne transitioned from science to banking. Her early career included roles at Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered, UBS, ABN Amro, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. As Chief Operating Officer at Allied Irish Banks, she helped steer the bank through its post-crisis recovery.

Frustrated by the failure of traditional banks to embrace new technologies, Anne decided to do something radical: to build a digital-first, customer-focused bank from scratch, and in 2014 she founded Starling Bank.

Despite early challenges, Starling grew rapidly under Anne’s leadership, winning awards such as “Best British Bank” three years in a row and achieving a £2.5 billion valuation by 2022. Starling introduced features such as real-time notifications and budgeting tools, making finance more accessible and transparent for customers.

In June 2023, Anne stepped down as CEO but remained on Starling's board until July 2024, when she left to focus on a new artificial intelligence venture, AI By Boden.

A passionate advocate for women in business, particularly in fintech, Anne was appointed chair of the UK Government's Women-led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce, aimed at overcoming barriers faced by female entrepreneurs.

Anne has received numerous awards, including an MBE for services to financial technology. She is also the author of several books, including her memoir ‘Banking On It’, and ‘Female Founders’ Playbook’, a guide offering practical advice for women building businesses.

Anne Boden is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, respected for her insights on fintech innovation, digital transformation, and inclusive entrepreneurship. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Anne Boden’s Newsfeed

The Independent

Starling Bank and Beauty Pie top list of ‘women-powered’ UK firms

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The Sunday Times

Anne Boden quits Starling Bank to focus on AI

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Anne Boden’s Background

Starling Bank

Shareholder

Jun 2023 - Present

London, UK

Starling Bank is a UK-based digital challenger bank offering personal and business accounts through its mobile app. It emphasises user-friendly technology, transparency, and financial empowerment. Under Anne Boden's leadership, Starling became the first UK digital bank to achieve profitability, earning recognition for innovation and customer satisfaction.

Starling Bank

Founder and CEO

Jan 2014 - Jun 2023

London, UK

Anne founded Starling Bank in 2014 to create a tech-driven, customer-focused alternative to traditional banks, aiming for transparency, innovation, and modern digital banking that empowered its customers. She stepped down as CEO in 2023 to avoid conflicts of interest as a shareholder, and to focus on her new AI venture, AI By Boden.

Allied Irish Banks (AIB)

Chief Operating Officer

Jul 2012 - Dec 2013

Dublin, IE

Allied Irish Banks (AIB) is one of Ireland’s largest commercial banks, offering personal, business, and corporate banking services with a strong focus on digital innovation and financial stability. Anne served as Chief Operating Officer, helping to restore profitability after the financial crisis.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group

Head of EMEA, Global Transaction Services

2009 - 2011

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, now part of NatWest Group, is a UK banking institution offering retail, commercial, and private banking services. As Head of EMEA for Global Transaction Banking, Anne managed a payments business spanning 34 countries, overseeing services for clients ranging from small enterprises in Romania to major global corporations.

ABN Amro

Executive Vice President Europe, Transaction Banking (Payments, Liquidity, Trade)

2006 - 2009

ABN Amro is a major Dutch bank providing retail, private, and corporate banking services, primarily serving clients in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe.

Aon Ltd

Director and Chief Information Officer

1998 - 2005

Aon Ltd, a subsidiary of Aon plc, is a global professional services firm headquartered in London. It specialises in risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, retirement, and health solutions.

UBS

Vice President, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Europe

1993 - 1998

UBS Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services firm headquartered in Zurich and Basel. It offers wealth management, investment banking, asset management, and retail banking services globally. Following its acquisition of Credit Suisse in 2023, UBS became the world's largest wealth manager, overseeing assets exceeding $6 trillion.

PwC Management Consulting

Supervising Consultant, Financial Services Division

1990 - 1993

PwC Management Consulting helps organisations improve performance through strategy, operations, technology, and risk management services, advising across industries to drive growth, efficiency, and transformation.

Standard Chartered Bank

Head of Systems and Process, UK Corporate Banking

1985 - 1990

Standard Chartered is a British multinational bank headquartered in London, operating primarily across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It offers services in corporate, institutional, and wealth management banking, with 90% of profits derived from these regions.

Lloyds Banking Group

Programme Manager

1981 - 1985

Lloyds Banking Group is a leading UK-based financial services provider, offering retail, commercial, and insurance services through brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Scottish Widows.

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Anne Boden’s Gallery

Other Business Interests

AI By Boden Ltd

CEO

Jun 2023 - Present

AI By Boden is Anne Boden’s new venture exploring artificial intelligence and industry disruption. Founded in 2023, it reflects her passion for leveraging technology to create a fairer world.

BodenOffice.com

Founder

2023 - Present

BodenOffice.com is Anne Boden’s family office and supports her mission to use technology for positive social impact. Building on Anne’s fintech leadership experience, it invests in ventures and initiatives that leverage innovation to make the world fairer and better.

Previous Board Positions

Starling Bank

Board Member

Jun 2014 - Jun 2024

London, UK

Previous Advisory Roles

The Mayor’s Business Advisory Board

Member

Jun 2022 - Sep 2024

London, UK

The Mayor of London's Business Advisory Board brings together leaders from various sectors to provide insights and guidance on economic and business matters affecting London.

Women-led high-growth enterprise taskforce

Chair

Jul 2022 - Feb 2024

London, UK

Anne Boden chaired the UK Government’s Women-led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce, set up to identify barriers facing female entrepreneurs; to influence investors; and recommend strategies to increase women-led high-growth businesses.

Prime Minister's Business Council

Member

Feb 2022 - Jul 2023

London, UK

The Prime Minister's Business Council was established to encourage collaboration between the UK government and business leaders. Anne Boden was appointed to the Council in February 2022 and aimed to represent the interests of small business owners, start-ups, and the fintech sector.

UK Government's Board of Trade

Advisor

Sep 2020 - Sep 2021

London, UK

The UK Government's Board of Trade is a high-level advisory body that promotes international trade and investment, supports UK businesses in global markets, and advises the government on trade policy.

Middlesex University

Member of the Board of Governors

2011 - 2012

London, UK

Anne served on the Board of Governors at Middlesex University in 2011. This role involved contributing to the university's strategic oversight and governance, drawing on her extensive experience in banking and technology.

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Media

Starling Bank CEO Anne Boden: 'My curiosity has guided me'

Video Interview

Aug 2022

In this video interview, Anne reflects on how her inquisitive nature and extensive background in banking technology propelled her to establish a digital-first bank. She also shares insights into the evolving landscape of financial services and the role of innovation in driving change.

The Diary of a CEO | Anne Boden

Video Interview

Nov 2021

In this episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast, host Steven Bartlett interviews Anne Boden, founder and former CEO of Starling Bank. Boden shares her journey from a 30-year career in traditional banking to launching a digital-only bank at age 54.

Interviews

“I wouldn’t be a CEO founder again”

Interviewee

Oct 2024

Anne tells Sifted that she has no plans to return as a CEO, VC, angel, or politician. Instead, she's exploring healthtech and AI, and aims to focus on five companies, hoping that at least one will become a £10bn business.

Starling Bank’s Anne Boden: ‘I was ashamed to be a banker’

Interviewee

Aug 2022

Anne reflects on her journey from a tech-savvy banker in the 1980s to a fintech pioneer. Disillusioned by the male-dominated culture of traditional banking, she founded Starling to challenge industry norms. Despite early setbacks, Boden secured significant investment and led Starling to profitability. She emphasises the importance of resilience and innovation in transforming the banking sector.

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Thought Leadership

Stop trying to fix women founders - fix the funding system, says Starling Bank founder ANNE BODEN

Author

Mar 2024

Female founders receive just 2% of UK equity investment. Anne Boden argues that women aren’t the problem—systemic funding inequality is.

LinkedIn Articles

Author

Anne’s articles on LinkedIn are thoughtful, candid, and often focused on leadership, innovation, and the realities of building a disruptive business in a traditional industry. She offers personal insights from her journey as the founder of Starling Bank while championing diversity, resilience, and ethical banking.

Features

Anne Boden’s Journey: From Mobile Banking to Artificial Intelligence

Profile

Sep 2024

Anne Boden transformed banking with Starling, a mobile-first bank known for innovation and profitability. Now, she's turned to AI with her new venture, AI by Boden. Her career reflects a drive to solve real-world problems through technology.

The first woman to found a British bank

Profile

Jul 2023

Anne Boden, the first woman to establish a British bank, stepped down as CEO of Starling Bank in June 2023. Her departure marks the end of a tenure during which she grew Starling from a startup into a leading digital bank with over three million customers.

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Publications

Female Founders’ Playbook: Insights from the Superwomen Who Have Made It

Author

Mar 2024

In this book, Anne compiles insights from successful female entrepreneurs and venture capitalists and offers advice on everything from initial concepts and team-building, to securing investment and scaling a company. The book addresses the unique challenges women face in the startup world, providing actionable strategies and inspiration for aspiring female founders.

Banking on It: How I disrupted an industry

Author

Nov 2021

Banking on It is a candid and compelling memoir that chronicles Anne’s journey from banking executive to founder of the UK's first digital-only bank. The book looks at the challenges she faced, including securing funding, navigating regulatory hurdles, and overcoming internal conflicts, while breaking barriers as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

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Awards & Recognition

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

Fellow (FBCS)

Swansea University

Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship

Jul 2023

Swansea, UK

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Specialist Courses

London Business School

Corporate Finance Programme

London, UK

The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Certificates in Financial Services for Directors; Principles of Financial Regulation; Risk in Financial Services

London, UK

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Speaking Engagements

The Royal Society

Keynote Speaker, Labs to Riches Dinner

May 2025

London, UK

Swansea University's "Founders of the Future"

Speaker

Mar 2024

Swansea, UK

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Charitable Interests

Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

Supporter

Founded in 2008 by Cherie Blair CBE KC, the Foundation’s mission is to help women entrepreneurs in low and middle-income countries to start, sustain, and grow successful businesses.

Anne Boden’s Education

Middlesex University

MBA, Dissertation: Relationship Banking at an International Bank

1987 - 1990

Swansea University

BSc (Joint Hons), Chemistry & Computer Science

1978 - 1981