Since the mid-1990s, Ron Whatford has held numerous senior executive roles across the Lloyds Banking Group, including Managing Director of Operations at Scottish Widows. Ron was most recently Chief Experience Officer and Managing Director of Store Services at Lloyds TSB whilst operating as a member of the Retail Board for the Group. He retired from these roles in 2007.

Previous directorships include Chairman of the Bacs board from 2001 to 2003, where Ron oversaw the split of the organisation into Bacs Ltd (which became Voca Ltd, the international payment transaction specialist) and Bacs Payment Schemes Ltd and non-executive Director of Link from 2005 until its merger with Voca in 2007.

Alastair Taylor, Chairman, Focus Solutions Group plc, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Ron Whatford to the Board of Focus. Ron brings with him a wealth of experience of the retail banking industry which will be of great value in driving forward our new focus:enterprise service. Ron's strong skill set and insight will help us shape our unique proposition which assists the largest global retail banks with achieving an aggregated data client hub."

On his appointment, Ron Whatford added: "Focus has an excellent range of products and services which are extremely relevant to the market challenges financial services organisations are facing at the moment. I am excited about joining the organisation and in particular helping to develop the market for focus:enterprise, which I believe the retail banking sector is crying out for in order to meet their regulatory and risk requirements."