Lloyds Banking Group Appoints Manija Poulatova as New Group Chief Security Officer

Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Manija Poulatova as Group Chief Security Officer to lead its cyber security and technology resilience efforts. For fintech professionals, this leadership change at one of the UK’s largest retail banks signals a continued shift toward engineering-led security strategies as the sector navigates increasingly sophisticated digital threats and rapid AI adoption.

What was announced

Manija Poulatova will officially take up the position of Group Chief Security Officer on 16 November, reporting directly to Ron van Kemenade, the Group Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Poulatova is tasked with leading cyber security and technology resilience across all of the Group’s operations and brands. Her remit includes overseeing robust cyber governance and ensuring that security remains a central pillar of the bank’s ongoing digital transformation.

Poulatova joined Lloyds Banking Group in January 2024 and currently serves as the Director of Security Engineering and Operations. In her current capacity, she leads a team of more than 600 security experts. Her professional background is rooted in major technology and cyber security firms; she spent nearly five years at Google Cloud in roles such as Head of Security and Networking Practices and previously held positions at LogRhythm and Palo Alto Networks.

She succeeds Matt Rowe, who is departing the Group after a four-year tenure as Chief Security Officer. During his time with the bank, Rowe focused on modernising the Group’s cyber defences through increased automation and the acceleration of AI adoption. Poulatova is expected to build upon these foundations, maintaining the security of services as customer banking habits and the wider threat landscape continue to evolve.

"Manija is an outstanding security leader with deep expertise and a strong understanding of our business. Security is fundamental to the trust our customers place in us, and Manija brings the experience and judgement we need as technology and the threats we face continue to evolve."

Ron van Kemenade, Chief Operating Officer at Lloyds Banking Group

"Protecting our customers, colleagues and the Group has never been more important, particularly as technology continues to change how people manage their money. We have talented security teams across Lloyds, and I am looking forward to working with them to build on the strong foundations already in place and ensure security remains at the heart of the Group’s transformation."

Manija Poulatova, Chief Security Officer at Lloyds

The companies involved

Lloyds Banking Group is a major financial institution in the United Kingdom, serving millions of retail and commercial customers through a variety of well-known brands. As a cornerstone of the UK banking sector, the Group operates a massive digital infrastructure that is currently undergoing significant transformation to keep pace with fintech challengers and changing consumer expectations. The Group’s focus has increasingly turned toward integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and automation into its core operations.

The bank maintains a significant presence in the UK mortgage, savings, and business lending markets. Its scale makes it a primary target for cyber-attacks, necessitating a security infrastructure that is both resilient and capable of proactive threat hunting. With a dedicated security workforce of hundreds of specialists, the Group positions itself as a leader in financial services security engineering, moving away from traditional reactive models toward a more integrated, technology-first approach to risk management.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed Lloyds Banking Group’s digital and strategic developments closely, with 199 stories published to date. Recently, the Group has been active in the SME sector, as seen when Momenta Finance Secures £200 Million Lloyds Facility to Boost UK SME Lending. The bank has also been vocal about its technological explorations, recently launching a new 'No Ordinary Tech' podcast series exploring quantum computing and AI.

On the product side, the bank has integrated AI into practical trade solutions, such as when Lloyds Bank Launched an AI Tool to Recover 500,000 Trading Days for UK Exporters. Furthermore, the Group’s research into consumer habits was highlighted when Lloyds Banking Group Unveiled the UK Digital Money Map, which examined AI adoption and regional financial trends across the country.

What this means

The appointment of a security leader with a Google Cloud and engineering background underscores a broader industry trend: the transition of the Chief Security Officer from a compliance-focused role to a core engineering discipline. As legacy banks migrate more services to the cloud and integrate AI into customer-facing tools, the "attack surface" expands significantly. The pressure is now on traditional institutions to match the agility of digital-native neobanks without compromising the "fortress" reputation that maintains customer trust. This move suggests that for the UK’s largest banks, security is no longer just a defensive necessity but a critical component of digital product development.