Barclays Wealth Names Daniel Esslinger as Head of Latin American Relationship Management and Distribution in the Americas

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Barclays Wealth is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Esslinger as a Managing Director and Head of Latin American Relationship Management and Distribution in the Americas.

Mr. Esslinger will be based in Miami and report jointly to Philippe Sednaoui, Global Head of Latin America, and Steve Houston, Head of Wealth Management for the Americas. A Swiss national, who grew up in Brazil, Mr. Esslinger brings over 20 years of experience to this role. Previously, Mr. Esslinger was head of private banking at Banco Itau (Suisse) SA. Prior to that, he worked in a variety of private banking roles at Credit Suisse in Switzerland and then at UBS in Brazil, Panama and Miami.

As a part of its increased global focus on Latin American clients, Barclays Wealth last year named Mr. Sednaoui – then head of Switzerland – to his current role. He is responsible for the firm's strategy to deepen the capabilities and platform for Latin American clients.

Mr. Sednaoui commented: "In the last couple of years we have established a key competitive foothold in the Latin American market. We are now focused on accelerating the business development in this region over the next five years, and establishing ourselves as a provider of choice to high and ultra high net worth individuals and families."

Mr. Esslinger will be implementing this strategy in the Americas, working closely with the Regional Managers and Investment Representatives focused primarily on Latin American clients.  

Mr. Houston, who oversees the firm's Investment Representative network in North and South America, added: "We welcome Daniel to the firm. He is a remarkable international executive and will do a great job in bringing the key elements of our global offering to our Latin American clients."

Mitch Cox, Head of Barclays Wealth, Americas, and Head of Global Research & Investments for the firm, said: "I am delighted to have a manager of Daniel's experience and caliber for this strategic position. I am confident that based on his track record, Daniel will help to substantially grow our Latin American business out of Miami, Buenos Aires and New York"

Mr. Cox is responsible for the overall Americas business as well as the Barclays Wealth research and investment platform across the globe.

Notes to editors:

Philippe Sednaoui, Global Head of Latin America, Barclays Wealth

As of December 2010, Philippe Sednaoui became Global Head of Barclays Wealth Latin America. Philippe joined the firm in April 2007 as Head of Switzerland at Barclays Wealth's International Private Bank EMEA. 

Prior to this, Mr. Sednaoui spent seven years at Credit Agricole, where he was in charge of Private Banking for Brazil. In previous roles he was a Principal in an Emerging Market fund focused on Brazil and Russia and had also run the Emerging Market Trading of Bankers Trust Co. in Brazil. He has also worked at Citicorp Investment Bank and Comind in New York, Bahrain and Brazil.

Philippe received his Masters of International Relations and Economics from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Paris.

About Barclays Wealth

Barclays Wealth is a leading global wealth manager, and the UK's largest, with total client assets of $251bn (158bn pounds Sterling), as of September 30, 2010. With offices in over 20 countries, Barclays Wealth focuses on private and intermediary clients worldwide, providing international and private banking, investment management, fiduciary services and brokerage.

Barclays Group is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, corporate banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

For further information about Barclays Wealth, please visit our website www.barclayswealthamericas.com.

Twitter page: www.twitter.com/barclayswealth

Barclays Wealth, the wealth management division of Barclays Bank PLC, functions in the U.S. through Barclays Capital Inc., an affiliate of Barclays Bank PLC. Barclays Capital Inc. is a registered broker dealer and investment adviser, regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Barclays Bank PLC, registered in England and Wales (no. 1026167), has a registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP, United Kingdom, and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

SOURCE Barclays Wealth