4 February 2012
Group Finance Director Chris Lucas and Group General Counsel Mark Harding to retire from Barclays
Barclays has today announced that the Group Finance Director Chris Lucas, and the Group General Counsel Mark Harding, have decided to retire from the company.
Chris and Mark have agreed to remain in their roles until their successors have been appointed and an appropriate handover completed. The search for these appointments is now underway. Given the seniority of the roles, and the importance of securing the right candidates, we expect that process to take a considerable time to complete.
Commenting today, Antony Jenkins, Group CEO, said:
"Chris and Mark both expressed to me late last year that they were considering stepping down from their roles at Barclays. The rationale which each shared with me was consistent and, typically, grounded in wanting to do what is best for the bank. Their decision to retire was theirs alone.
"Barclays is at an inflection point in our journey towards becoming the 'Go-To' Bank. We will shortly unveil the outcome of our strategic review, to which they have both made a major contribution. The execution of our change programme will take place over the next 5-10 years, and both Chris and Mark feel that now is the right time for them, personally and professionally, to pass the baton on in their respective roles to executives who can commit to seeing that programme to completion.
"Chris and Mark have given tremendous service to Barclays. The Chairman, the Board and all my Executive Committee colleagues and I shall be very sorry to see them go. I know they join me in recognising the quality of their contributions, the sacrifices they have both made in what have often been challenging times, and their unfailing collegiality.
"We will continue to rely on them very greatly in the coming months."
Chris Lucas, Group Finance Director, said:
"It has been my great pleasure and privilege to serve as Group Finance Director of Barclays for nearly 6 years now. While it has undoubtedly been the most eventful period during which anyone could have occupied a role such as mine, I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. However I think now is the appropriate time, as we start the implementation of the Transform programme, to begin my retirement from my role on the Board and Executive Committee, and to pass the mantle on to a successor. I shall of course continue to give my full commitment to Barclays until he or she is appointed."
Mark Harding, Group General Counsel, said:
"This year marks ten years since I joined Barclays as Group General Counsel. We are starting a new period of the bank's development under Antony's leadership. I wholeheartedly support the direction of travel and have no doubt that great success lies ahead. While it will be an exciting journey, I believe it also provides an obvious transition point, and one which I have decided to take. I shall be sad to say goodbye to Barclays when the time comes but the bank, and my colleagues, will always have my support and best wishes."
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Barclays Investor Relations Barclays Media Relations
Charlie Rozes Giles Croot
+44 (0)207-116-5752 +44 (0)207-116-4755
