Lloyd’s new GC

Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Kate Cheetham as its new general counsel as reported in The Lawyer. Cheetham was previously deputy general counsel to Andrew Whittaker who took on the role on a fixed two-year term in May 2013. Whittaker will be leaving the business and is expected to seek “non-executive roles”, said a spokesperson. “It has always been my expectation that Kate Cheetham would succeed me after I completed my two years with the group, and I offer her my warmest congratulations on her very well-deserved appointment,” said Whittaker. Cheetham was appointed deputy general counsel in December 2012, jointly overseeing the bank’s legal team. Before joining the bank she was a corporate partner at Linklaters. Prior to that she ran a commercial art gallery in London for five years. “I am absolutely delighted and extremely proud to have been appointed group general counsel – this is a pivotal time for both the group and also for the legal community,” she said. ”I am really excited about the future and I believe our team has a great opportunity to contribute to the Group’s strategy,” she said.