Lloyds Banking Group, formed out of the recently-agreed merger between UK banks Lloyds TSB and HBOS, has appointed Tom Woolgrove to the post of head of UK private banking, a move from his previous role as head of HBOS’s general insurance arm.

Mr Woolgrove will take up his role later in January, WealthBriefing understands from people familiar with the matter. A number of media reports said he had been appointed to the role. HBOS declined to comment.

Mr Woolgrove, head of HBOS's general insurance operation, will run UK private banking. He was the first Halifax executive to move over to a senior job at the Bank of Scotland when he became the Edinburgh-based head of asset finance after the companies merged in 2001.