Staff Writer | Palladium - Mar 05 2019
"Making a Positive Difference in a Commercially Viable Way": Former Senior Banker Joins Palladium Board of Directors

Charlie Middleton, Palladium Board Member

The former UK Managing Director of Europe’s leading values-based bank has joined Palladium as a non-executive director.

After more than 30 years in banking, most recently as head of the UK arm of Triodos Bank, Charlie Middleton will take up his new role with Palladium in March 2019.

“I’m delighted to be joining the Palladium board,” says Charlie. “I’m very interested in Palladium’s international reach and the impact aspect of its business, and I’m looking forward to getting to know and understand how the company delivers the range of solutions it offers.”

Charlie brings a wealth of financial services and impact investing experience to Palladium. Prior to Triodos Bank, he held senior leadership roles for Barclays in Africa, the Caribbean and India. He is also a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist.

“I’ve increasingly focused my work on businesses and organisations that aim to make a positive difference in a commercially viable way,” Charlie continues. “I hope my experience in the finance sector and impact investment alongside my broader governance and strategic knowledge will be of real use to the board.”

Palladium CEO Christopher Hirst believes Charlie’s understanding of sustainable banking and his knowledge of the UK’s regulatory environment will prove invaluable to the business.

“Charlie’s 13 years as Managing Director at Triodos Bank will be of huge benefit as we continue to expand our impact investing capabilities,’ says Christopher. “He also has experience working in Africa and understands the investment requirements of the continent’s emerging economies, which is a real focus for us.”

Charlie already has links with Palladium through his role as a non-executive director of capital advisory firm Enclude, which Palladium acquired from Triodos Bank in September 2018. Palladium’s Managing Director Kim Bredhauer is enthusiastic about the opportunities in this connection.

“Charlie is in tune with our aims around impact investing and understands how to navigate the UK’s financial services industry, which is highly regulated,’ Kim explains. “Charlie is an excellent appointment who’ll do a fantastic job of augmenting and complementing our existing board.”