RBS picks first woman to lead major UK bank

LONDON, Sept 20 (AFP): Britain's bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on Friday appointed long-serving banker Alison Rose as chief executive, making her the first female boss of a major UK lender.

Rose, currently deputy head of the group's NatWest Holdings retail business and its commercial and private banking division, will replace Ross McEwan on November 1, the company said in a statement.

She will become the only woman to have lead one of Britain's so-called "Big Four" banks that comprise Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS.

The incoming CEO, an advocate of gender equality in business, has risen to the top in a traditionally male-dominated arena after working for 27 years at Edinburgh-based RBS.

Rose will assume the helm just one day after Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union.