With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Martin Cottrell is a leading expert in regulatory compliance and risk management. As a co-founder of Bannekr, he works with top-tier institutions to build resilient control environments and navigate complex regulatory landscapes. His approach combines strategic execution with operational precision, ensuring that boardroom-level strategy is effectively translated into frontline action.

Core Competencies

Martin’s expertise is focused on helping clients strengthen their governance, risk, and compliance frameworks. His key areas of focus include:

• Risk Frameworks & Control Design: Designing robust control frameworks and decision-grade analytics that are built for results and evolving expectations.

• Regulatory & Conduct Compliance: Guiding organizations through regulatory changes, from preparing for scrutiny by bodies like the FCA and PRA to implementing remediation initiatives.

• Strategic & Board Advisory: Providing trusted advisory to boards, COOs, and executives on governance and risk strategy, including holistic risk management oversight and reporting.

• AI-Powered Innovation: Leveraging an MBA in Applied AI to pioneer the use of AI in regulatory oversight, rule mapping, and process improvement to enhance compliance and efficiency.

• Business Transformation: Leading large-scale change and transformation programs, embedding risk management into commercial strategy, and driving operational efficiencies.

Experience Highlights

Martin’s career is marked by a history of impactful leadership roles at major financial institutions, where he has consistently delivered significant improvements in compliance and operational strategy.

• Barclays As Senior Vice President of Compliance, he directed transformation compliance across a significant portfolio of business banking assets, reducing conduct controls by 46% across digital platforms and pioneering AI rule mapping for global regulatory oversight.

• HSBC He served in several key roles, including Senior Manager, where he provided strategic guidance on global product governance and integrated scaled agile methodologies to accelerate delivery and ensure fair customer outcomes across 40 countries.

• Lloyds Banking Group He led initiatives to modernize enterprise risk management and influenced significant policy changes, such as the removal of certain products from sale to improve customer suitability. He also authored a White Paper on the application of AI in distribution.

• Royal Bank of Scotland As Group Compliance Manager, he designed and delivered a Group-wide Conduct Risk Assessment Framework across 8 divisions and 180,000 staff, standardizing risk identification and reporting.

Education & Certifications

• MBA (Distinction): Financial Services & Applied AI

• Certified Project Manager

• Six Sigma Qualified

• Agile & Scaled Agile