21 August 2008: Barclays Wealth announces key appointments to Belfast office

Barclays Wealth, the UK’s leading Wealth Manager, has confirmed its commitment to Northern Ireland as a key region for growth with the announcement of four senior appointments to the firm’s Belfast office.

Ciara Collins, Glenn Branney, Jonny Sloan and Matthew McGarry have joined Barclays Wealth’s Belfast office to bolster its investment management and financial planning divisions in the region.  These appointments have been made as part of Barclays Wealth’s long term growth strategy and will be instrumental in ensuring clients continue to access a leading wealth management service.

Ciara Collins has been appointed as an Investment Manager and brings an extensive knowledge of the local market having previously held the position of Investment Manager with Citi Quilter.  Prior to joining Citi Quilter, Collins spent eight years with Cunningham Coates.

Glenn Branney joins from Lloyds TSB where he spent five years as a Financial Planning Area Manager for Northern Ireland, North East and West of England.  Branney will assume the role of Financial Planner with responsibility for both individuals and the corporate sector.

Jonny Sloan has been appointed as a Private Banker, having previously held the position at Colin Stewart working in Corporate Finance and specialising in the structuring of companies for IPOs.   Prior to Collins Stewart Sloan was a Solicitor for Stephenson Harwood in London.
 
Matthew McGarry joins as a Private Bank Executive supporting the Investment Managers and Private Bankers.  McGarry spent the last three years with Cunningham Coates as a trainee Investment Manager prior to his five year tenure with Deutsche Bank.

These appointments bring the total number of staff at Barclays Wealth engaged in the Northern Ireland operation to ten. They will join Jonathan Dobbin, Head of Barclays Wealth in Northern Ireland and Craig Forbes, Investment Manager in the Belfast office, which is located in the same office as Barclays Commercial Bank.  The Barclays Wealth team will work closely with experts from Barclays Commercial Bank to advise Northern Ireland’s growing executive and entrepreneurial community, providing a service that encompasses both personal and professional financial management. This will include advice on specialist services such as executive pension planning, offshore investment trusts and property financing.

Jonathan Dobbin, Head of Barclays Wealth in Northern Ireland, commented: “We are delighted to have attracted these talented individuals, who are well placed to give Barclays Wealth a major advantage in developing our offering within this important region.

“This is a very exciting time for the Barclays Wealth brand in Northern Ireland, as we look to develop our services to match growing client demand.  We’re determined to continue to recruit people of this calibre as this office goes from strength to strength.”

Adrian Doran, Head of Barclays Commercial Bank in Northern Ireland, adds: "Offering our customers a comprehensive range of financial solutions which meet both their personal and business needs is becoming increasingly important.  We are therefore delighted with the expansion of Barclays Wealth, which is another important step for Barclays growth plans in Northern Ireland.   The market leading services offered by Barclays Wealth will be a very complimentary addition to our expanding Commercial Bank business, and our customers will reap the benefits of our joined up approach."

For further information contact:

Barclays Wealth
Nicola Hankey, Head of PR     
020 7114 9813 / 07775 548418
nicola.hankey@barclayswealth.com

Jignasa Patel, PR Manager
020 7114 9813
jignasa.patel@barclayswealth.com