In February 2015 he stepped down as CEO; he was replaced in the role by Alison Rose, the then head of RBS Commercial and Private Banking.
In May 2020, Tapner was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quintet Private Bank, Brown Shipley's parent.
His eldest son, Freddie Tapner is the founder of The London Musical Theatre Orchestra, and its principal Conductor.
In September 2010 he was appointed CEO of Coutts Bank, the wealth management division of RBS Group from which he stepped down in March 2015.
[citation needed] He was Deputy Chairman of the World Questions; King's Answers fundraising campaign.