Barclays names European retail banking boss
Barclays’ new chief executive Antony Jenkins has handed the running of its Continental European retail and business banking division to Curt Hess, currently the division’s chief financial officer, the bank said today.
In one of Jenkins’ first significant appointments, Hess will lead the European Retail and Business Banking (ERBB) division, covering Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, where the bank is attempting to cut costs and boost profitability in the face of the deepening Eurozone crisis.
Barclays had 951 branches and 8,000 staff across the four countries at the end of June, down from 1,120 branches and 9,300 staff a year earlier as it restructures.
“Whilst we expect the difficult economic climate in Europe to remain for some time, under Curt’s leadership we will continue to manage costs tightly and remain focused on our customers,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins was promoted to chief executive of Barclays last week, from retail and business banking chief executive – a position not yet filled. Jenkins had taken direct control of ERBB since Deanna Oppenheimer quit as UK and European retail banking boss at the end of last year.
Hess became CFO of ERBB in February 2011, and was previously chief financial officer for BarclayCard and Barclays Africa.