BNP Paribas Securities Services has appointed Gail Burke, the Sydney-based head of its businesses in Australia and New Zealand, as Chief Operating Officer in London. Burke, who will start in London on 1 September, will be responsible for all UK IT and operations functions.
The French bank says her appointment is a measure of the growth potential it sees in the UK market. Burke will report locally to Tony Solway, Head of BNP Paribas Securities Services UK, and globally to Philippe Ricard, Head of Fund Services Operations.
“During Gail’s tenure, BNP Paribas Australasia’s assets more than doubled, mainly thanks to significant new client appointments and product developments, which have made our Sydney office the fastest growing provider in the market,” says BNP Paribas Securities Services CEO Jacques-Philippe Marson. “The UK is a strategically important location for our business, growing very rapidly in all the client sectors in which we operate; Gail’s strong skill-sets will be key assets developing our business in the coming years.”
Burke joined BNP Paribas three years ago from Macquarie Bank, where she worked for 20 years, rising to an Executive Directorship as well as holding the positions of CIO for the entire Bank for 12 years and COO of the Financial Services Group for 3 years.
“This newly created position and Gail’s appointment demonstrate the importance we place on quality in servicing our clients, as well as the major role our UK operational and technological platforms play in our offer globally,” says Philippe Ricard.
Tony Solway adds that in the last three years BNP Securities Services has invested heavily in new products and services, as well as client service. “This commitment is being rewarded by high levels of growth which we expect to continue,” he says. “Gail brings both a strong track record in the delivery of service excellence, as well as all the necessary skills ensure that we execute on the major business development and change management initiatives we have planned.”