#147 Benny Higgins: Ex-Bank CEO on Success, Money, Art & What Really Matters

About this episode

<p>Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker and Former CEO of RBS, Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank. He is also the chairman of a portfolio of companies. He's a lover of Art and Poetry. He is also my good friend.</p><p><br /></p><p>Benny Higgins grew up in Toryglen tower blocks, captained Celtic’s youth team, and became a defining force in modern Scottish business — from CEO of RBS during the NatWest takeover, to building Tesco Bank from the ground up. But what makes Benny different is the paradox: a numbers man with a lifelong devotion to poetry, art, and culture — and a Glaswegian accent that never moved an inch.</p><p>We recorded this in Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a place that shaped Benny as a 10-year-old at his first ever art competition — and still represents the thread running through his life: curiosity, pride, and the desire to win.</p><p>We get into Celtic, class, and leadership… the reality of boardrooms at scale… why he hires through trust over “perfect CVs”… and the stories you genuinely couldn’t script: Maya Angelou, the Golden Globes, Soho, and a cocktail named after his fifth wife Sharon.</p><ul><li><p>Why Kelvingrove is symbolic to Benny’s origin story</p></li><li><p>Toryglen tower blocks: toughness, community, and confidence through football</p></li><li><p>Celtic youth captaincy and the first leadership lessons that stuck</p></li><li><p>“I just wanted to win”: the mindset behind academic dominance</p></li><li><p>Actuarial exams in 2.5 years (when the average was ~7)</p></li><li><p>RBS context + how the NatWest hostile takeover happened</p></li><li><p>Building Tesco Bank from scratch: 140 people → 5,000 → 8m customers</p></li><li><p>Hiring “the best people I knew” and why trust beats process</p></li><li><p>Social mobility: money, identity, and why he treats everyone the same</p></li><li><p>Soho stories: tailors, members clubs, and the “Higgins No.5” cocktail</p></li><li><p>The Golden Globes: Jon Hamm photo… taken by Bradley Cooper</p></li><li><p>Lunch with Maya Angelou: poetry, Burns, and an unforgettable moment</p></li><li><p>What people think is true about him (but isn’t)</p></li><li><p>What’s next — and the ambition that still drives him</p></li></ul><p>Guest</p><p>Benny Higgins — former senior leader at RBS, creator of Tesco Bank, chair/board roles across culture and business.</p><p>Subscribe on YouTube + hit the bell<br />Follow the podcast on Spotify/Apple: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6DV9tUfz5nGCmH0bfZUFrM" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/6DV9tUfz5nGCmH0bfZUFrM</a><br />Join the Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjr" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjr</a><br />Follow me on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr/</a></p><p>If you enjoyed this give me a follow:</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Sponsor — Slater Menswear (Made To Order)</strong><br />Quick shoutout to <strong>Slater Menswear’s Made To Order</strong> service — they’ve been part of some of the biggest moments in my own origin story: first job interview suit, first corporate role, big talks, and now sitting across from guests I genuinely admire. They measure you properly, you choose every detail, and you get a suit that actually feels like it fits the life you’re stepping into.<br />If you’ve got a moment coming up — <strong>wedding, promotion, graduation, or a first interview</strong> — check out Slaters <strong>Made To Order</strong>. It’s a belter.</p>