Antonio Horta-Osório once wrote that he “would like to create the best and most successful commercial bank” in the UK. After earning many plaudits since taking his role as chief executive of Santander UK, the 46-year old has just been given the opportunity to run the UK’s largest retail bank.

Horta-Osório will replace Eric Daniels as chief executive officer of Lloyds Banking Group on March 1, 2011, it was confirmed this morning.