Barclays Capital announces the appointment of Sir David Wright as Vice Chairman with effect from January 1, 2003. Sir David will be based in London and will be a senior relationship adviser for the firm with special emphasis on the UK and Asia Pacific region. He will report to Grant Kvalheim, Global Head of Investment Banking and Credit Products and Robert Morrice, Asia Pacific Chairman and Chief Executive.
Sir David’s appointment coincides with the retirement of Sir Leonard Appleyard, who steps down as Vice Chairman after nearly five years at Barclays Capital. Commenting on these moves, Bob Diamond, Chief Executive of Barclays Capital noted, “Sir Leonard has been a trusted and valued member of the senior management team. His guidance has been instrumental in building our business in Asia Pacific. I thank him personally for his input, energy and drive. We are fortunate to have, in Sir David Wright, an excellent fit with our senior management team and a seasoned business professional. Sir David’s presence will provide continuity for strengthening the relationships formed during Sir Leonard’s tenure, and also help us develop new business opportunities in the UK and Asia Pacific region”.
“We are delighted that Sir David has joined Barclays Capital”, added Robert Morrice, “he brings a wealth of international business experience to the bank, including 16 years in all in Japan and Korea, eight of them as Ambassador in the two countries. In particular, his reputation and business acumen will be a tremendous asset to us as we continue to build our Asia Pacific presence.”
Most recently, Sir David was Chief Executive of British Trade International (BTI) in the UK, a position he has held since 1999. Sir David has been in the Diplomatic Service since 1966 and has held the positions of British Ambassador in Japan (1996-1999) and Korea (1990-1994). He is fluent in Japanese and speaks good Korean.