The CEO of Bristol-headquartered ethical finance firm Triodos Bank UK is to step down from the role next year in a move that will coincide with its 30th anniversary.
Bevis Watts, pictured, joined Triodos in April 2016 as its managing director and became CEO three years later. 
It was his second spell at the bank, having previously spent five years there as head of business banking between 2008 and 2013.
He will continue as CEO until the end of June next year while a successor is appointed. A recruitment process for a new CEO was already underway.
Triodos Bank UK, which employs around 200 staff in Bristol, London and Edinburgh, said under Bevis’ leadership it had undergone enormous transformation.
This included moving from a telephone and internet savings bank to a current account and mobile banking provider, extending the investments product range and also becoming the first UK bank to launch an investment crowdfunding platform.
Both its balance sheet and customer numbers had more than doubled, while it has now recognised as the UK’s No.1 or Best Buy ethical and sustainable bank by organisations ranging from consumer title Which? to Ethical Consumer magazine and Good With Money, as well as the UK’s most trusted bank by Fairer Finance. 
Earlier this year it was also named Best Ethical Financial Provider at the British Bank Awards for the third year running.
Triodos, which also has banking activities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Germany, uses customers’ deposits to provide a range of finance and tailored support to progressive companies, social enterprises and charities making an impact, both from an environmental and social perspective.
Its range of services includes current accounts, investments and savings.
The bank said Bevis had announced his departure at a time when its senior management team and CEO team were strong, with a number of the senior management team having been promoted internally, so ensuring good continuity.
His departure will coincide with Triodos Bank’s 30th anniversary in the UK in 2025, which it said would “provide a great platform to celebrate the heritage of the bank and welcome a new CEO”.
Bevis said: ”I’m immensely grateful for the support of our customers and coworkers.
“We have achieved a huge amount together in building and growing the bank but, more importantly, we have pioneered the financing of several national ‘firsts’ in social and environmental projects and we have delivered a huge body of work that has been at the forefront of advocating for change in the financial system.
“I know that Triodos will continue to be a reference point and source of inspiration on how banking must change to be a force for good.”
Triodos Bank UK chair Gary Page added: ”The bank is a much larger and more impactful organisation thanks to Bevis’s transformational leadership and with a strong team to take the bank forward to fulfil our ambitions to finance change and change finance.
“He has always been a great champion for what we stand for and everything we do.
“We are immensely grateful for his contribution over many years and all he has done for Triodos. I am delighted that Bevis will be remaining with the bank to support the handover process with his successor.”
A certified B Corp business, Triodos is also a co-founder of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of 60 sustainable banks.
