(12 February 2026 – United Kingdom) Diego De Giorgi has stepped down as Group Chief Financial Officer of Standard Chartered with immediate effect to join Apollo Global Management as Partner and Head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
His departure comes despite being widely viewed as a leading internal contender to succeed long-serving CEO Bill Winters.
Apollo is an existing client of the bank and recently entered a US$3 billion partnership with Standard Chartered to fund infrastructure and green energy projects, reflecting the growing convergence between traditional banking and private capital.
In a statement, De Giorgi said: “I have long viewed Apollo as one of the most innovative firms in financial services, and this is an especially meaningful time for me to be a part of its growth journey as European companies, economies and investors demand the types of long-term solutions Apollo brings to bear.
“I am excited to leverage the breadth of my experience in working with clients, regulators, banking partners and the broader financial services sector to lead Apollo’s EMEA business in this next phase alongside an impressive group of colleagues.”
The exit renews attention on succession planning at Standard Chartered. Winters has led the bank for more than a decade, making him one of the longest-serving chief executives in the FTSE 100, and has indicated he may remain in post longer than previously expected. Another potential successor, Simon Cooper, departed earlier after Winters signalled he was not preparing to step down. With the CEO turning 65, the board is understood to be intensifying its succession preparations.