Profile Ross McEwan - the Kiwi taking on the toughest job in UK banking - Telegraph Since joining RBS last year, McEwan has begun a major programme of investment across retail banking, focusing on improving branch facilities - he is said to visit up to five a week - and offering advanced online and mobile banking services for customers. The 56-year-old joined RBS last September as chief executive for UK Retail, having worked in retail banking for more than a decade. More than half of that time was spent at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where he was most recently group executive for Retail Banking Services. McEwan was credited with lifting retail banking profits by 50pc to $2.8bn over five years, and saw the Bank awarded numerous awards including the 'Best Retail Bank in Asia Pacific' and the 'Best Retail Bank in Australia'. He also held the position of executive general manager at CBA in charge of its branch networks, contact centres and third-party mortgage brokers. Before banking he worked in both the insurance and investment industry in Australia and New Zealand for more than 25 years. During that time he held senior positions at stock-broking business First NZ Capital Securities and was also chief executive of National Mutual Life Association of Australasia/AXA New Zealand. New Zealand-born McEwan holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management. He is married with two children.