Elaine Arden has been appointed group head of human resources at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group with effect from 1 October.

Arden is currently HR head for RBS Business Services, the bank’s largest division with more than 43,000 staff in over 45 countries.  

Her appointment follows a four-month global search, attracting a significant number of highly qualified external candidates, led by Korn/Ferry Whitehead Mann.

Stephen Hester, group chief executive, says: “There are few more vital areas to RBS’s future than helping us attract, retain, motivate and engage people. In Elaine I believe we are promoting a strong and talented leader for a function that is critical to the future success of RBS.”

Arden will succeed Neil Roden, who announced earlier this year that he was stepping down after 10 years in the role.