James Persse

Spear’s Review

James Persse is Barclays born and bred, having joined the bank in 1995. He has worked with Barclays Corporate Bank, Barclays Capital and Barclays Stockbrokers, and joined the private bank in Geneva in 2003. 

Now the head of Barclays Private Bank Switzerland, Persse leads the UK and Swiss teams, all of whom are ‘focused on client service, execution, discretion and advice.’ His role additionally includes advising on investment and family structuring, UK resident non-domiciled specific matters, expatriating to Switzerland and investment performance management. 

‘Working with our [investment management] specialists, my focus is always to preserve and grow capital with a view to the long term,’ he says. This approach has proved invaluable throughout his career, as evidenced through the growth of his client base to over £2.5 billion of assets under management.