Barclays

Barclays PLC is a major global financial services company. In 2008 it was ranked as the 25th largest company in the world according to Forbes Global 2000. On Fortune Global 500, it ranked 103 in 2006, 83 in 2007, 70 in 2008, and 83 in 2009.

Structure

Barclays PLC is a holding company - it operates through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC. Its investment banking division is called Barclays Capital.

People

Board members (February 2009)

• Marcus Agius Chairman from 1 Jan 2007. He succeeded Matthew Barrett. Agius is the senior non-executive Director of the BBC and ex-Chairman of Lazard in London and a Deputy Chairman of Lazard LLC until 31 December 2006. Ex-Chairman of BAA PLC, a position he held from 2002 until 20 December 2006.
• Sir Nigel Rudd, Deputy Chairman (non-exec director)
• John Varley, Group Chief Executive: He was appointed as Group Chief Executive on 01 September 2004, prior to which he had been Group Deputy Chief Executive from 01 January 2004.
• Robert Diamond Jr, President, Barclays PLC and CEO of Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth Management
• Chris Lucas, Group Finance Director
• Frits Seegers, Chief Executive, Global Retail and Commercial Banking
• David Booth, Non-Executive Director
• Sir Richard Broadbent, Senior Independent Director

Non Executive Directors (February 2009)

• Richard Leigh Clifford
• Fulvio Conti
• Dr Danie Cronjé
• Professor Dame Sandra Dawson
• Sir Andrew Likierman
• Sir Michael Rake
• Stephen Russell
• Sir John Sunderland
• Patience Wheatcroft

PR and lobbying

Internal

• Howell James, corporate affairs director, appointed summer 2008. The previous four years James was Cabinet Office's permanent secretary for government communications, responsible for the ‘strategy, co-ordination and effectiveness’ of communications across Whitehall. He was political secretary to former Conservative prime minister John Major.
• Alistair Smith, Head of media relations
• Jane Atkin, Corporate comms director
• Christine Farnish, Sustainability and public policy director

External

• Andrew Garfield of Brunswick advises Barclays on public relations.
• Weber Shandwick Public Affairs, handles Barclays' public affairs.
• Cicero Consulting handles Barclays Capital's public affairs
• Finsbury lists Barclays Capital as a client.

MPs on the payroll

• Francis Maude MP, shadow Cabinet Office minister (Conservative), is a paid Member of Barclays’ Asia-Pacific Advisory Committee.

Affiliations

• British Council, corporate partner
• American Chamber of Commerce EU Committee Website
• Business in the Community Website
• Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation Website
• Conference Board Website
• Industry and Parliament Trust
• Royal Institute of International Affairs Website

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Ventures (early 00's)

"Barclays has one of the biggest community programmes in the world, with a spend in 2000 of £26.3 million, making us one of the top corporate contributors." (Annual Review and Summary Financial Statement 2001, page 14)

"Barclays New Futures is an eight year, 8 million programme providing opportunities for students to develop life, work and citizenship skills through partnership projects between schools and the community."

"Invest and Inspire was launched in 2001 to promote accessibility to the arts. We are supporting major exhibitions at the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Britain as well as all the productions at the Royal National Theatre's Olivier Theatre.

Barclays also supports its employees' enthusiastic involvement in their local communities with a range of schemes. In 2001 Barclays approved more than 7,400 applications for matched funding which helped raise £5.87 million." (Barclays Social Review 1999, p 28)

"Barclays Group Property Services has developed its own environment policy that is reviewed annually and amended to reflect technological advances, legislative developments and industry best practice.

Barclays use a substantial amount of paper and require suppliers to ensure that this and other raw materials are from ecologically managed sources.

Barclays have 6,000 vehicles in their fleet, all running on unleaded petrol or diesel. Instead of providing free fuel for company car drivers, a cash alternative to a company car is available and 1,300 employees have chosen this option.

Barclays Stationery Services purchases over 10,000 laser printer cartridges every year - all of which are remanufactured. A freepost returns service allows the cartridges to be sent back to the manufacturer for re-use.

Barclays policy is to re-use redundant office furniture wherever possible. Items may be transferred to another office, or offered to charities or schools. Redundant computer equipment is passed to an external agency, which accesses its potential to be re-used or recycled. In most cases the equipment is either refurbished for resale as whole units or parts, or is disposed of in an environmentally responsible way - components are either sold as scrap or recycled. Plastic coin bags are re-used until damaged and are generally collected for disposal via incineration. Each year Barclays recycles some 10 million plastic cups used in staff restaurants and vending machines." (Barclays Environment Review, p 8.) (recycling)

Early 90s Board of Directors

• Dr. David Atterton: Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, British Coal Corp., Rank Organisation
• Mary E. Baker: Avon Cosmetics, Holiday Care Service, MFI Furniture, Prudential Corporation
• David Band: BZW
• Sir Timothy H. Bevan: Foriegn & Colonial Management
• Sir J. D. Birkin: RTZ, Carlton Communications, CRA (Australia), Merchants Trust
• Andrew Buxton: British Invisibles, Smithkline Beecham Plc
• The Right Honourable Lord Camoys: BZW, The Administrative Staff College Ltd., Barclays Development Capital, British International Rowing Fund Ltd., Greenhill & Co. Ltd., National Provident Institution Ltd., 3i Group Plc
• Sir Micheal Franklin: Agricultural Mortgage Corp. Plc, Whessoc Plc, Whitbread
• Sir Denys Henderson: ICI, RTZ
• Sir Martin Jacomb: Postel Investment, Bank Of England, British Council, Commercial Union, Marks & Spencers, RTZ, The Telegraph
• The Right Honourable Nigel Lawson: Central Europe Trust Co., Creditanstalt Bankrevein, GPA Group
• Sir Gerald Mobbs: Aims of Industry, Allnat London Properties, Anglo French Industrial Development, Anglo German Industrial Development, Barclays (Canada), British Council for Offices, Buckinghamshire Historic Buildings Trust, Charterhouse Holdings, Cooksan Group, Corporate Health Ltd., Gauntlet Developments, Groundwork Foundation, Guildhall Property Co. Plc, Howard de Walden Estates, Kingfisher, Lotapel SA, Mezzanine Capital Corp., Mobbs Memorial Trust, NV Slough Properties, Pentagon Developments, Royal Artillary Museums Ltd., SDK Inc. USA, Slough Developments / Electricity Supplies / Estates Administration / Estates Design & Construction / Finance / Overseas / Management / Parks Inc. USA / Social fund / Trading Co. / Trading Estates, Tishman Holdings
• Jan Peelen: Unilever
• Sir James Spooner: John Swire & Sons, BT Staff Superanuation Scheme, Glanmoor Investments Ltd., Hemming Publishing, The Housing Finance Corp., J.Sainsbury Plc, The Morgan Crucible Co. Plc, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden Ltd.
• Sir Peter Middleton: BZW, Bass Plc, General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corp. Plc, English Chamber Orchestra, The Institute of Contemporary British History
• Sir Patrick Wright: De La Rue Plc, British Petroleum Plc

Contact

Website:

http://www.barclays.co.uk

This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch.

Resources

• APPC, APPC Register Entry for 01 December 2008 to 28 February 2009, accessed 12 April 2010.
• Barclays, The Board, accessed 12 April 2010.
• Brand Republic, "Banking industry Insider's Guide: UK banks' reputation managers," 03 October 2008, accessed 12 April 2010.
• CNN, Fortune Global 500, accessed 12 April 2010.
• Public Affairs News, "[tt_news=156&tx_ttnews[backPid]=73&cHash=297b7a7618 Information on PA personnel moves during December 2008]," People Moves December 2008 by Ian Hall, accessed 12 April 2010.
• UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests25 November 2009, accessed 12 April 2010.