Antony Jenkins

Antony Jenkins is a British business executive best known for his tenure as the Group Chief Executive of the multinational banking giant Barclays. He succeeded Robert Diamond in 2012, tasked with overhauling the bank's culture and strategy in the wake of the Libor scandal and other controversies. After a three-year tenure focused on restructuring and ethical reform, he was succeeded by Jes Staley in 2015. Jenkins has since held significant roles in financial technology and corporate governance, including as Executive Chairman of the FinTech company 10x Future Technologies and as a board member for institutions like Bloomberg L.P..

Early life and education

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, he attended St. Dunstan's College in London for his secondary education. He subsequently read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His academic background provided a foundation for a career that would later intersect heavily with economic policy and corporate ethics within the global financial sector.

Career at Barclays

He joined Barclays in 1983 through its graduate training program, beginning a long association with the institution. He held various leadership roles in retail and consumer banking across different regions, including as Chief Executive of Barclaycard, where he oversaw significant expansion. Following the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 and the bank's involvement in the Libor scandal, the Barclays Board of Directors appointed him as Group Chief Executive in August 2012, replacing Robert Diamond. His strategy, known as "Transform", aimed to simplify the bank, improve conduct, and shrink the influence of its investment bank, particularly the Barclays Capital division. Despite these efforts, tensions with the board over the pace of change and profitability led to his departure in July 2015, with John McFarlane taking over as Chairman before the appointment of Jes Staley as CEO.

Post-Barclays career

After leaving Barclays, he moved decisively into the financial technology sector. In 2016, he founded and became Executive Chairman of 10x Future Technologies, a cloud-native banking software venture aimed at providing core technology to other financial institutions. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the charity Business in the Community. His expertise in banking reform and technology led to advisory positions, including as a senior advisor to the Boston Consulting Group and a member of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on sustainable finance. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of Bloomberg L.P. in 2016, contributing to the governance of the global financial data and media company.

Other roles and recognition

He has served on several corporate and advisory boards, leveraging his experience in banking and technology. He is a former non-executive director of the EAT food-to-go chain and has been involved with the World Economic Forum on issues concerning the future of financial services. In recognition of his contributions to the financial sector and his advocacy for ethical banking, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and has been a vocal commentator on the need for the banking industry to regain public trust through greater transparency and customer focus.

Personal life

He is married and has three children, maintaining a relatively private family life. He is known to be an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C. and has interests in history and philosophy, reflecting his academic background. His philanthropic activities are often channeled through his involvement with Business in the Community, focusing on social mobility and responsible business practices.

Category:1961 births Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford Category:Barclays people Category:English bankers