Key Takeaways
- • Standard Chartered appointed Manus Costello as permanent chief financial officer on May 18, 2026, succeeding Diego De Giorgi who departed in February 2026 to join Apollo Global Management as head of EMEA.
- • Costello, global head of investor relations since 2024, brings 25 years of equity research experience, including as founding partner and Global Head of Research at Autonomous and 10 years at Merrill Lynch in London and New York.
- • The appointment becomes effective immediately as interim group CFO, with Costello joining the board as an executive director subject to regulatory approval and reporting directly to Group Chief Executive Bill Winters.
- • The CFO transition occurs one day before Standard Chartered's group strategy update, positioning the bank ahead of a critical phase as it completes a multi-year restructuring and prepares medium-term financial objectives.
- • Costello's appointment reflects his demonstrated value in stakeholder engagement and strategic positioning during his tenure in investor relations, according to CEO Bill Winters.
Summary
Standard Chartered appointed Manus Costello as its permanent chief financial officer on May 18, 2026, filling a position vacated by Diego De Giorgi's unexpected departure in February. De Giorgi, who had served nearly three years in the role, left to assume the position of head of EMEA at Apollo Global Management. Peter Burrill had stepped in as interim CFO in early February before the bank conducted its search for a permanent successor.
Costello joins the CFO role from his position as global head of investor relations, a role he assumed upon joining Standard Chartered in 2024. The 25-year veteran of equity research brings substantial capital markets expertise, having founded and led global research operations at Autonomous and spent a decade at Merrill Lynch conducting equity research across London and New York offices. His appointment as interim group CFO is effective immediately, and he will join Standard Chartered's board as an executive director pending regulatory approvals. He will be based in London and report directly to Group Chief Executive Bill Winters.
The timing of the announcement precedes Standard Chartered's group strategy update scheduled for the following day, May 19, 2026. The update represents a significant moment for the Asia- and Africa-focused lender as it emerges from a multi-year restructuring that has included cost reduction initiatives and strategic divestitures. The bank is expected to present renewed growth plans and articulate medium-term financial objectives as it enters its next growth phase. Winters characterized Costello as having "made a significant contribution to the group's strategic positioning and engagement of stakeholders" while bringing "strong rigour and an entrepreneurial mindset," positioning the appointment as supportive of the bank's forward strategy and stakeholder communication objectives.
Costello joins the CFO role from his position as global head of investor relations, a role he assumed upon joining Standard Chartered in 2024. The 25-year veteran of equity research brings substantial capital markets expertise, having founded and led global research operations at Autonomous and spent a decade at Merrill Lynch conducting equity research across London and New York offices. His appointment as interim group CFO is effective immediately, and he will join Standard Chartered's board as an executive director pending regulatory approvals. He will be based in London and report directly to Group Chief Executive Bill Winters.
The timing of the announcement precedes Standard Chartered's group strategy update scheduled for the following day, May 19, 2026. The update represents a significant moment for the Asia- and Africa-focused lender as it emerges from a multi-year restructuring that has included cost reduction initiatives and strategic divestitures. The bank is expected to present renewed growth plans and articulate medium-term financial objectives as it enters its next growth phase. Winters characterized Costello as having "made a significant contribution to the group's strategic positioning and engagement of stakeholders" while bringing "strong rigour and an entrepreneurial mindset," positioning the appointment as supportive of the bank's forward strategy and stakeholder communication objectives.
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