Barclays Group Executive Committee undergoes recent modifications
## Barclays Announces Leadership Transition and New Appointments
Barclays has announced a significant change in its leadership team, with Alistair Currie, the Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), stepping down to pursue a board portfolio career. His departure marks the end of a tenure that saw Currie make valuable contributions to the bank’s strategy and transformation objectives.
### New Leadership at Barclays
In his place, Barclays has appointed Craig Bright and Anne Marie Darling as Group Co-COOs, jointly taking over from Alistair Currie. Both will also serve as Co-CEOs of Barclays Execution Services (BX), the bank’s internal back-office services company.
### Craig Bright: A Focus on Technology and Digital Transformation
Craig Bright joined Barclays in 2020 as Group Chief Information Officer and has led the bank’s technology strategy and digital transformation across retail and institutional divisions. With over three decades of experience from Citi and Westpac, Bright brings a wealth of expertise in technology, operations, and the delivery of major digital and cloud initiatives. His tenure has been marked by a focus on digitalization and operational efficiency, positioning the bank for growth in a technology-driven financial landscape.
### Anne Marie Darling: A Blend of Front-Office, Operations, and Digital Expertise
Anne Marie Darling joined Barclays in April 2021 after a 25-year career at Goldman Sachs, where she was a partner for the last 12 years. At Goldman, she held senior positions including head of Global FICC Execution Services, COO of Global Securities Sales, and head of Marquee digital strategy. Her experience spans trading, sales, operations, and digital transformation, making her uniquely positioned to lead both operational and technological modernization efforts at Barclays.
### Collaborative Leadership and Strategic Focus
Barclays CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan emphasized that Bright and Darling’s “vast and rich professional experience” and “complementary” skills will benefit the bank’s collaborative leadership. The dual appointment reflects Barclays’ commitment to technological and operational transformation, with Bright’s technology acumen and Darling’s operational and digital experience addressing both the core and future needs of the bank. Their joint leadership of Barclays Execution Services signals an intent to integrate front-office performance with back-office efficiency, a critical lever for cost management and client service in modern banking.
### The Barclays Executive Committee Update
This leadership reshuffle is part of the Barclays Executive Committee Update, which is designed to strengthen operational and technological leadership as the bank continues its transformation agenda. The new leadership team is expected to drive execution, cost efficiency, and client service, positioning Barclays for future growth in a competitive and rapidly evolving sector.
### Key Leaders’ Profiles
| Name | Prior Experience | Barclays Role(s) | Leadership Focus | |------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Alistair Currie | 8 years at Barclays, incl. Corporate Banking | Former Group COO (departed) | Strategic execution, transformation | | Craig Bright | Citi, Westpac, Barclays CIO | Group Co-COO, Co-CEO BX | Technology, digital transformation | | Anne Marie Darling | Goldman Sachs (Partner, 12 yrs), FICC, Marquee | Group Co-COO, Co-CEO BX | Operations, trading, digital strategy|
The bank's strategic objectives are being executed with a strong focus and direction, thanks to Alistair Currie’s leadership and the upcoming leadership of Craig Bright and Anne Marie Darling. Their combined expertise in digital innovation, operations, and financial markets is expected to drive execution, cost efficiency, and client service, positioning Barclays for future growth in a competitive and rapidly evolving sector.
- The new leadership team at Barclays, Craig Bright and Anne Marie Darling, will be driving execution, cost efficiency, and client service as they lead both operational and technological modernization efforts, as reported by ffnews.com.
- Bright's tenure at Barclays has been marked by a focus on digitalization and operational efficiency in finance and business, with a wealth of expertise in technology, operations, and the delivery of major digital and cloud initiatives.
