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Adele Bohlen, Crown Dependencies director and chief executive of Lloyds Bank International, tells Emily Moore how the firm’s sponsorship of the première of Bergerac ties in with its wider commitment to Jersey
IT will feel slightly unusual, admits Adele Bohlen, to be stepping away from meetings and office attire on Monday afternoon for something out of the ordinary.
But there is a good reason that the Crown Dependencies director and chief executive of Lloyds Bank International will be walking down the red carpet next week at Cineworld, as the bank is one of the main sponsors of the première of the new series of Bergerac.
“Bergerac is iconic in Jersey and really put the Island on the map many years ago,” Adele reflected. “The new series will once again heighten the Island’s profile, ultimately bringing more business and visitors to Jersey, and therefore I felt that Lloyds had to be associated with it.”
And the sponsorship of the première is, she adds, just part of the bank’s “much wider support for the community and commitment to giving something back to Jersey”.
“This sponsorship, together with our wider programme of community support and the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, underpins our investment in the Crown Dependencies and long-term commitment to the jurisdiction,” she said.
It is an approach which also played a key part in attracting Adele, who has been working in offshore banking for more than 20 years, to the business in October 2023.
“Lloyds is a very big supporter of the communities in which it is based,” she said. “But while those strong corporate values made me feel that this was the organisation to be part of, they were not the only reason that I was attracted to Lloyds.
“This is, after all, a brand which has been trusted in the UK and Crown Dependencies for hundreds of years, and yet I felt that there was great potential to grow our profile and raise further awareness of our products and services.
“We are continually investing in creating new, innovative products and services for our clients and customers, and I am also keen to highlight the high standard of skilled and quality people working here. We are proud of what we provide to local customers across Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and internationally.”
One example of Lloyds’ investment in technology and innovation to benefit its customers, Adele continues, is Lloyds Bank Gem®, a cash management and payment platform which she describes as “best in class”.
“We launched this product in the Crown Dependencies two years ago, but I think there is still tremendous potential to talk to corporate clients, trust companies and fund services providers to showcase the way in which Gem can help them with their day-to-day business,” she said.
The new series of Bergerac will once again heighten the Island’s profile, ultimately bringing more business and visitors to Jersey, and therefore I felt that Lloyds had to be associated with it
Reflecting on an “exciting, interesting and challenging” first 18 months in the role, Adele added that further product launches would be in line with the bank’s “long-term strategic approach”.
“While all organisations care about their clients, Lloyds has a highly considered and client-centric approach,” she said. “This means that we focus on our customers’ and clients’ needs, and we’re committed to bringing to market products and services that help and support them.
“We are also proud to support businesses that will invest in the local communities, with a recent example being the provision of a £100m social private placement for Andium Homes, who are looking to develop 250 much-needed affordable homes for Jersey (andiumhomes.je).
“As we look at the needs of all of our clients, and try to enhance our services accordingly, I would encourage anyone in the Crown Dependencies to come and talk to our great specialists to understand how we can help you.”
The use of the word specialists is no accident. With the business “in growth mode”, one of the main continuing focuses is on recruitment and “building a really good team with subject-matter expertise, so that the bank can not only provide sustainable products but also have specialists in each field to talk to clients and provide that all-important thought leadership”.
“We have attracted some great talent over the past 12 months but are really keen to encourage more people to join us,” said Adele, adding that one of the areas the bank was particularly keen to highlight was its apprenticeship programme.
“This is a fantastic initiative, which gives school-leavers the opportunity to work for us, gaining experience of different areas of the organisation, while also undertaking a professional qualification,” she said. “We have some excellent apprentices, some of whom have now completed the programme and are starting their career within the bank, and I hope that these apprentices will go on to have incredible careers – maybe even one day becoming a chief executive.”
Indeed, the apprenticeship programme is not too dissimilar from Adele’s own entry into the world of banking, which started when she joined a management development programme at NatWest.
“From that point, I’ve had a fantastic career,” she smiled. “I’ve learnt so much, completed a lot of professional qualifications and I wouldn’t change it for the world. But that experience also got me thinking, a couple of years ago, that it was time to give something back, which is why joining Lloyds, and becoming a trustee of the Lloyds Bank foundation, was so appealing.
“The work of the foundation, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is exemplary. Over the past 39 years, it has awarded more than £25m to charities across the Channel Islands, and the difference that has made to the lives of people here is significant. It is truly humbling to be a part of that process, and I am really looking forward to continuing that work this year.
“The foundation is an independent charity funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group, which works in partnership with small and local charities. Lloyds is an organisation committed to supporting the communities in which it operates to thrive, and I am delighted to be playing a part in building that sustainable brand, which prioritises community and develops the best possible product range to meet the needs of its clients.”
