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Barclays sustainability chief exits in latest bank reshuffle

Barclays' group head of sustainability Laura Barlow has actually stepped down to pursue other chances, a representative informed Reuters, the current senior reshuffle amongst Britain's leading banks as the sector faces increased examination over its climate efforts.

In November, the sustainability chief at rival HSBC departed after her function was dropped from the bank's. executive committee, which sparked concerns that the lender. might thin down a few of its climate commitments. Banks' environment. efforts have actually come progressively under the spotlight after several. Wall Street loan providers just recently exited a U.N.-convened climate. alliance.

Barlow, who was responsible for leading Barclays'. efforts to align with the world's goal of limiting climate. modification and other sustainability objectives, retired at the end. of 2024 to pursue a portfolio profession but will remain a senior. advisor to the bank, the representative said.

Daniel Hanna, the bank's head of sustainable financing for. the corporate and financial investment bank, has actually given that taken on an. broadened function as group head of sustainable and transition. finance, the spokesperson said.

London-based Hanna reports to the Head of Public Law and. Business Responsibility, Matt Hammerstein; Co-Head of. Investment Banking, Cathal Deasy; and Head of Global Markets. Adeel Khan, the spokesperson stated.

Before signing up with the bank in 2021, Barlow was head of. large business and institutional banking at UK bank NatWest.

Under Barlow, Barclays early last year relocated to limit its. lending to energy companies broadening nonrenewable fuel source production,. although a report by advocates still has Barclays among the 10. biggest companies of financing to the nonrenewable fuel source industry.

Barclays has also vowed to help with $1 trillion of. sustainable and transition financing by 2030.

While investors and environment advocates have broadly. welcomed the banks' actions to curb financing to the world's most. polluting sector, some Republican politicians have attacked. lending institutions doing so in Barclays' crucial U.S. market.

A year ago, Texas Chief law officer Ken Paxton said Barclays. would not be allowed to underwrite the state's municipal bonds. after it failed to address questions about its climate method. A bank representative at the time decreased to comment.

Barclays made 31% of its overall revenue in the United States. in 2023, up from 25% in 2022, much of it from its trading. service and charge card, and it is keen to grow in business. banking there, although the bank's spokesperson said the U.S. reaction played no function in Barlow's decision to leave.

(source: Reuters)