Allan has been brought on board on an “ad hoc” basis to provide Virgin Money with advice addressing the recent Independent Commission on Banking and its public affairs strategy.
Allan was hired as RBS’s director of strategy by then-chief executive Sir George Mathewson in 1993 and is thought to have later become a member of Goodwin’s inner circle.
Allan left RBS more than two years ago, after having helped to devise the bank’s disastrous takeover of ABN Amro at the top of the market in 2007. The move led to the bank becoming 83% owned by taxpayers.
The UK Treasury is expecting final bids for Northern Rock to be in by the end of October, with Virgin and venture capital firm JC Flowers thought to be in fierce competition.
