Barclays Bank courts public fury with appointment
Sep 8 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal
AN AMERICAN-born banker whose multi-million-pound pay rewards fuelled anger against the banking sector has been named in the top job at Barclays.
Bob Diamond will take over from chief executive John Varley in March after a 14-year spell with Barclays that has seen him turn its investment banking arm from scratch into a business so large it generates more than 80% of the bank’s total profits.
The 59-year-old, one of the world’s richest bankers, will be paid a £1.35m annual salary, up from the current £250,000, and stands to receive potential bonuses worth another £10m.
In a day of upheaval in the banking sector, HSBC executive chairman Stephen Green also announced plans to step down in favour of a role in David Cameron’s government.
Mr Green, who has been chairman since 2005, will replace Lord Davies, the former Standard Chartered boss, as trade minister.
Mr Diamond said he was honoured to take on the new role, but the move is likely to enrage some politicians and union leaders.
Many consider Mr Diamond – with an estimated worth of £95m – to be the epitome of the excessive bonus culture.
Although he waived his bonus last year after widespread criticism of bankers, he received £26m for his shares in Barclays Global Investors, the bank’s fund management business, when it was sold to America’s BlackRock.
