From Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry to bank president. François Baroin was appointed, Thursday, president of the French subsidiary of the British bank Barclays. “François Baroin’s experience and stature make him an ideal choice to become chairman [président] for France”, explains Francesco Ceccato, CEO of Barclays Europe.
“By expanding his role, he will be able to contribute even more strongly to the expansion of our activities in France,” he continues. François Baroin will in particular be responsible for participating in the development of relations with the bank’s major clients and the promotion of all the activities and solutions offered by Barclays in France, it is specified.
When former ministers choose the private sector
The figure of the right and mayor of Troyes in the Aube had already exercised since 2018 an advisory role within the bank on business banking professions. The 56-year-old former parliamentarian was several times minister of right-wing governments between 2005 and 2012, notably of the Interior, Budget and Economy and Finance. He led until 2021 the powerful Association of Mayors of France (AMF).
Other former ministers have chosen the private sector: the former colleague of François Baroin, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, went through the consulting firm Capgemini, while the former Prime Minister François Fillon had joined the management company of assets and investment Tikehau Capital. Fleur Pellerin, former Minister of Culture under François Hollande, for her part, founded an investment fund, Korelya Capital, in 2016.