Gérald Mathieu was recently appointed CEO of Barclays Monaco. He tells us about his ambitions as Barclays celebrates its 100th birthday in the Principality next year.
Can you tell us a little about your background?
I have been working in the private banking industry for 30 years. I started my career in Paris with BNP before the marriage with Paribas. I was already dealing with private clients but also with entrepreneurs, which has always been my main focus.
Then I joined Merrill Lynch in Paris and Northern Europe with various managerial responsibilities. Seven years later, I joined UBS in Paris, and finally Barclays. I spent just over seven years in Monaco as head of the Barclays Private Banking teams.
Then I joined Barclays in Switzerland, in Geneva at the beginning of 2018, where I was the General Manager of the private bank for a little over three years. Last year I became Managing Director of Private Banking for Europe. At the beginning of 2021 I took over responsibility for the Middle East, as I also cover our business in Dubai, mainly booked in Switzerland, London and Monaco.
What is your strategic focus?
To satisfy the Monaco resident clients, which today represent the majority of our clients, and to offer them high quality banking and investment products and solutions thanks to our strong synergies with Barclays Corporate and Barclays Investment Bank. We have also recruited a Global Head of Client Experience who manages the entire client experience as we continue to invest in our digital offering, including product propositions, marketing, distribution and market and client-facing processes.
The Principality welcomes new residents with very international and often active profiles, who work all over the world. Many family offices are also setting up in the Principality. This clientele is sensitive to the fact that they are working with an international bank like ours, the only British bank in the country. We have real local expertise, as the bank was established in Monaco in 1922. We are very active in real estate financing in Monaco and the surrounding area, particularly in France, and on all types of projects. We support our clients in London, Dubai and Asia, for private banking but also for investment banking and corporate banking.
This is what makes the difference and is really our strategic focus: the diversity of our services and our ability to provide clients with tailor-made investments and banking solutions where and when they need them.
You participated in the Monaco Ocean Week, Barclays is involved in sustainable finance?
The subject of impact investing, and ESG more generally, is becoming extremely important and is a guiding principle in the organisation and asset allocation decisions of our clients. This trend is obviously driven by the Millenials, by generation Z, and the governance of families has changed dramatically: it is moving towards greater diversity, women are taking on more role and power, and creating wealth. Clients are still looking for performance in asset allocation, but they want to make sure that our investment solutions are environmentally friendly, sustainable. This is one of the reasons why we participate in important events that can change the face of the world, such as the Monaco Ocean Week. In asset management, we have a very selective and rigorous process dedicated to green management or management that aims to preserve the oceans, blue management. Our investment solutions are concrete and respect the United Nations sustainability charter. We also create tailor-made management mandates to meet the governance needs of families and clients.
We are now at this historical crossroads, in terms of wealth, corporate reorganisation and private wealth. We have an obligation to participate in the preservation of our planet, which is a fascinating subject. Once again, banks can help society, and I think that's great.
What ambitions do you have for Barclays Monaco in the coming years?
Many ambitions! Monaco is a strategic place for Barclays Private Banking: we will soon celebrate our 100th birthday in the Principality.
We have a responsibility and a role to play here: that of being an important economic and social player, which has been true for decades. We are proud of the service and performance we manage to provide to our clients. Our priority is to support them and provide them with full access to the services of a global bank like Barclays. I am confident that together with the Principality we can continue to grow and develop as we have done for so long.
