Sir Brian Pitman | Banker, 78

Sir Brian Pitman, 78, the banker who led Lloyds TSB to become one of Europe's largest financial groups, died Thursday after a heart attack earlier in the week, the British Bankers' Association said Friday.

Angela Knight, chief executive of the association, called Sir Brian a giant of the financial industry who was "widely recognized for his knowledge and ability as well as his willingness to get involved."

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, who this year hired Sir Brian as chairman of Virgin Money, called him "the most respected banker of his generation."

Sir Brian joined Lloyds Bank in 1952, and served as chief executive officer from 1983 to 1997, and chairman from 1997 to 2001. He built Lloyds from a small bank to one of Europe's largest through acquisitions and the merger with TSB Bank P.L.C. in 1995.

He remained active after standing down at Lloyds. He was recently appointed chairman of Virgin Money and was an adviser to Morgan Stanley International. - AP