Royal Bank of Scotland's plans to become less complex by scything down the number of its operating divisions from seven to just three has cast two 22-year veterans of the UK bank, including one of FN's Most Influential Women in the European financial markets, in key roles.

The current divisions at RBS are UK retail, UK corporate, wealth, international banking, Ulster Bank, US retail and commercial banking and markets. RBS group chief executive Ross McEwan today said these would be reduced to just three.