Thought to be the youngest Chief Executive appointed to head a bank in the Province, the 38-year-old said his vision is to be the best local financial partner for consumers and businesses alike.

“There’s no doubt that I’m taking over the helm of one of Northern Ireland’s biggest banks at a challenging time for the banking industry and for businesses and consumers,” he said, adding that it had never been more important for banks to listen to customers and to “build the relationships and trust required to guide them through more difficult times”.

“I’m confident we have a sound base to work from. As part of the Danske Bank Group we have the technology and market leading products to set us apart as a modern, progressive bank. But behind this innovation is the heritage of one of Northern Ireland’s oldest banks.”

The bank has been through a turbulent time in recent years, enduring the IRA robbery in 2004 as well as the prolonged re-organisation following the handover to Danske bank from its former Australian owners, announced at virtually the same time as the heist.

Mr Mallon, a Cambridge honours graduate in economics, joined the group in August 2006 as Head of Business Development and later became Deputy Chief Executive. He is already on the Board of Northern Bank Ltd and a member of Danske Bank’s Executive Committee. Over the past 18 months he has played a key role in the transformation and growth of the bank and now succeeds Don Price who has retired after 10 years in the post.

“Don Price has left us in a very strong position and I’d like to pay tribute to his achievements over the past ten years. I’m very proud of the team and the brand I have inherited and look forward to leading Northern Bank into a new era,” said Mr Mallon.

“I want to build on this foundation through a strong customer focus, leading a bank that is based on local decision making and engages fully with government, industry and consumers.”

Mr Mallon joined the Civil Service on graduation, becoming Private Secretary to the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland and then moved to IDB becoming Director of International Operations.

After five years in the Civil Service he became Senior Strategy Consultant at McKinsey and Co. in London. He joined Northern Bank from Bank of Ireland where he was Director of Business and Retail Banking. A certified Banker, he has completed an MBA with the University of Ulster.