Bryson will step down as deputy chairman of life insurer Scottish Widows, part of Lloyds Banking Group (>> Lloyds Banking Group PLC), and will also relinquish a role as a non-executive director of TSB (>> TSB Banking Group PLC), which has been bought by Spain's Sabadell (>> Banco de Sabadell SA).

Thorburn was formerly chief executive of Clydesdale Bank, which is owned by National Australia Bank (>> National Australia Bank Ltd.).

"David's considerable expertise in retail and commercial banking will be of great benefit as will Norval's exposure to the insurance sector," BoE Governor Mark Carney said.

The appointments by the BoE's board, with approval from finance minister George Osborne, will take effect on Sept. 1. They also allow BoE official Paul Fisher to take up his seat on the board which had been delayed due to a lack of external members.

(Reporting by David Milliken; editing by William Schomberg)