Susan Wunsch Rice '67 CBE

Alumnae Achievement Awards 2011

Socially Conscious Banker, Arts Advocate

Susan Wunsch Rice '67 is currently Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group in Scotland. Susan was the first woman to head a UK clearing bank when she was appointed CEO of Lloyds TSB in 2000. Since then she has overseen a period of dramatic growth.  She is known for her leadership skills and her ability to form new partnerships to produce innovative community finance plans, bringing banking to underserved communities.  She has been called the banker with the “most publicly developed social conscience.”  She believes – and acts accordingly – that “commercial and social motives can live side-by-side.”  She is frequently asked for guidance in the field of financial and social exclusion.  She is a founding director of Charity Bank, a not-for-profit agency that funds charities and volunteer groups.   Susan also serves as director of Scottish and Southern Energy. In addition to her business career, Susan is a leader and supporter of the arts, acting as chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.  Before entering banking in New York City (NatWest Bancorp) and then Aberdeen (Bank of Scotland), Susan started her career in academia as the Dean of Students at Colgate and the Dean of Saybrook College at Yale.

She has received numerous awards:

• Inaugural Leadership Award from the National Business Awards Scotland 2007

• Five honorary degrees

• Commander of the British Empire, 2005

• Finalist for the European Businesswoman of the Year in 2002.

Susan was a biology major at Wellesley and received a M.A. in literature from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.