Mark Mullen is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Atom Bank, the UK's first app-based bank to receive a full regulatory licence. He previously served as Chief Executive of first direct, the telephone and internet bank operated under HSBC, where he built a reputation for customer-focused retail banking. Drawing on that experience, he co-founded Atom Bank in 2014, guiding the Durham-headquartered challenger bank through its authorisation by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. Under his leadership, Atom has grown its mortgage and business lending operations and pursued a digital-only model aimed at reducing the cost base associated with traditional branch banking.