Robert Gardner has joined Nationwide Building Society as its new chief economist.

He replaces Martin Gahbauer, who has left the business.

As chief economist, Gardner will now be the Society’s key spokesperson on the Nationwide House Price and Consumer Confidence indices, as well as other issues relating to the UK economy.

He spent eight years working for the Royal Bank of Scotland, most recently as head of macroeconomics. Prior to this, Gardner worked for four years as an emerging markets economist for Barclays Bank, and he has also spent time as an economic adviser at HM Treasury.