CLYDESDALE Bank has beefed up its board with the appointment of Aegon UK chief executive Adrian Grace.

Mr Grace becomes a non-executive director of the bank and has also joined the board of National Australia Group Europe.

He said: "I am delighted to have joined Clydesdale's board at what is a pivotal period in the Bank's history.

"As Clydesdale Bank moves into the next phase of its development and continues to build a better bank for customers, I am greatly looking forward to playing my part in its future."

The appointment comes just a few days after Clydesdale chief executive David Thorburn announced he will step down from his role after almost four years in charge.

Since starting his career in 1979 with Leeds Permanent Building Society Mr Grace has been involved in a variety of financial services roles.

He was managing director of accounting software firm Sage Group's small business division between 2001 and 2004 before going on to join Barclays Insurance as chief executive.

In 2007 he joined the HBOS corporate division as its managing director of commercial banking.

He then moved to insurer Aegon UK as its business development director in 2009 then became chief operating officer.

Mr Grace, who has an MBA from Henley Management College, was appointed as chief executive of Aegon UK in April 2011 to replace Otto Thoresen.

He is also a member of the global management board of Dutch parent company Aegon NV and also sits on the board of the Association of British Insurers.

Jim Pettigrew, chairman of Clydesdale, said: "We are delighted to welcome Adrian to further strengthen the Boards.

"He has a first-class track record with outstanding business knowledge and experience which make him a great fit as we continue to build a better bank for our customers."

It is not known how much Mr Grace will be paid for the role.

The Clydesdale Bank annual report for the 12 months to September 30, 2014, shows non-executive director fees starting at £70,000.

Mr Grace's appointment is the latest in a re-shaping of the Clydesdale senior management ranks in the last six months.

Mr Pettigrew was appointed chairman in August last year, having been on the board since 2012, to replace former NAB Group chief executive Cameron Clyne who retired.

Teresa Robson-Capps, previously with HSBC and Accenture, became a non-executive director in October last year while existing Clydesdale non-executive David Allvey was appointed chairman of the audit committee.

The long serving John Hooper, an executive director and chief operating officer at Clydesdale, retired that same month.

Debbie Crosbie was appointed as an executive director of National Australia Group Europe last year.

Alongside that former Deloitte accountant Ian Smith became Clydesdale's new chief financial officer and David Gillespie, who has held a number of senior posts at Royal Bank of Scotland, was hired as distribution director.

Clydesdale's owner National Australia Bank is keen to exit its UK banking operations, which also includes Yorkshire Bank, and a stock market flotation is expected before the end of this year.

Mr Thorburn said he felt unable to commit to the five-year term which is expected to take Clydesdale through its next phase of development.

Headhunters have been hired and the recruitment process for a successor is said to be "well underway".

Mr Grace is not thought to be a candidate to replace Mr Thorburn.

Australian commentators believe the exit of Mr Thorburn is likely to see an acceleration of NAB's exit from the UK.

NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn, no relation to his Scottish counterpart, has made the offloading of non-core assets one of his main strategic goals since taking over from Mr Clyne last year.