#147 Benny Higgins: Ex-Bank CEO on Success, Money, Art & What Really Matters

About this episode

Benny Higgins discusses his journey from a tough upbringing in Toryglen to becoming a prominent figure in Scottish banking, intertwining themes of art, leadership, and personal values.

Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker and Former CEO of RBS, Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank. He is also the chairman of a portfolio of companies. He's a lover of Art and Poetry. He is also my good friend. Benny Higgins grew up in Toryglen tower blocks, captained Celtic’s youth team, and became a defining force in modern Scottish business — from CEO of RBS during the NatWest takeover, to building Tesco Bank from the ground up. But what makes Benny different is the paradox: a numbers man with a lifelong devotion to poetry, art, and culture — and a Glaswegian accent that never moved an inch. We recorded this in Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a place that shaped Benny as a 10-year-old at his first ever art competition — and still represents the thread running through his life: curiosity, pride, and the desire to win. We get into Celtic, class, and leadership… the reality of boardrooms at scale… why he hires through trust over “perfect CVs”… and the stories you genuinely couldn’t script: Maya Angelou, the Golden Globes, Soho, and a cocktail named after his fifth wife Sharon. Why Kelvingrove is symbolic to Benny’s origin story Toryglen tower blocks: toughness, community, and confidence through…

People in this episode

Host: David McIntosh Jr

Guest: Benny Higgins

Topics covered

• success
• money
• art
• leadership
• Scottish business
• personal growth

Keywords

• Benny Higgins
• RBS
• Tesco Bank
• leadership
• Scottish business
• art
• poetry
• success
• NatWest takeover

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RBS, Bank of Scotland, Tesco Bank

Places: Toryglen, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Scotland

More episodes of Origin Story with David McIntosh Jr

• #155 John McCalla-Leacy: How To Turn Adversity Into An Unbelievable Life · June 4, 2026 · 1h 41m
• #154 Michael Smoak: Michael Smoak: Dead Parents, Heartbreak & Finding God · May 27, 2026 · 52 min
• #153 Andy Macdonald: X-Games Champ & Olympic Skateboarder on Failure, Discipline & Joy · May 11, 2026 · 1h 1m
• #152 Rufus Rice: A Comedian’s Guide to Being Posh · May 1, 2026 · 1h 1m
• #151 Carol Kane (boohoo Founder): How I Built a British Fashion Empire · April 2, 2026 · 60 min
• #150 Daniel Sloss: The Making of Comedian (Netflix, First Gigs, Fatherhood & Growing Up Scottish) · February 6, 2026 · 1h 33m