Noreen Doyle has been appointed chair of the British Bankers Association (BBA), succeeding Nigel Wicks from October 17.

Doyle is currently chair of the board of Credit Suisse International and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe), and vice-chair of the Credit Suisse group. She is the first woman to chair the BBA and the first chair to come from the wholesale banking side of the membership.

Along her career, she has also worked with Bankers Trust in the US, and as first vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – a role in which she worked with governments and regulators to develop a banking system that promotes lending to SMEs.

“Her understanding of the needs of challenger banks as well as small business in the UK will be relevant to many BBA members,” the BBA says in a statement.

Wicks served as BBA chairman for the last three years.

BBA chief executive Anthony Browne says: “I am delighted that Noreen has agreed to become the new chair of the British Bankers’ Association. She brings a wealth of experience to the role which will help our industry navigate the challenges ahead.

“I look forward to working with Noreen as we take the BBA forward and strive to provide a world class service to the UK’s leading export industry.”

Doyle adds: “This is a time of great challenge but also great opportunity for the British banking industry, so I am honoured to be appointed as the new BBA chair. Rebuilding the trust of customers, driving up standards in the industry and working with government and regulators to ensure our banks remain globally competitive are some of the issues I look forward to working on with Anthony Browne and his team.”