Standard Chartered has appointed Manus Costello as its permanent Chief Financial Officer, ending months of interim leadership in one of the bank’s most critical executive roles.
Costello had been serving as interim CFO since January following the departure of former finance chief Andy Halford. The bank said the appointment takes immediate effect.
Before taking on the interim role, Costello served as the bank’s deputy CFO and group head of finance, treasury, and performance management. He has held several senior positions within the organization during his tenure at the Asia-focused lender.
The appointment comes as Standard Chartered continues to navigate a complex global banking environment marked by elevated interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and slower economic growth in key markets.
Analysts said the move provides leadership continuity at a time when the bank is focused on improving profitability, managing costs, and expanding operations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Standard Chartered has benefited from higher interest rates over the past two years, which boosted lending margins and overall profitability. However, investors remain closely focused on the bank’s long-term growth strategy, exposure to China’s economic slowdown, and performance across its wealth management and institutional banking businesses.
The lender has also been increasing investments in digital banking, cross-border payments, and sustainable finance initiatives as competition intensifies across the global financial services sector.
Costello’s appointment signals the bank’s preference for internal leadership continuity amid ongoing market volatility and operational transformation efforts.
