James Todd

Spear's Review

A fan of ultra-marathons, former Royal Marines officer James Todd has a desire to push himself that knows no bounds. Heading Barclays UK Private Bank is no mean feat, either.

‘The role of a private banker is to understand clients’ needs and to provide an effortless interaction [in order to] meet their requirements across banking, credit, investment management and wealth advisory,’ says Todd.

He believes in connecting clients to like-minded peers, unique business opportunities, new technology and relevant professional networks – across not only the Barclays Private Bank, but also the Investment Bank, Corporate Bank and Business Bank. ‘The client base of a private bank is a great asset – the “intellectual pollen” therein is hugely valuable to other clients, and with the correct protocols observed should benefit all,’ he says.

Adviser Profile

During his 14 years with Barclays, twin passions for client engagement and high service standards have been important constants for the Head of the UK Domestic Private Bank. James Todd also understands the importance of leadership and how great teamwork can lead to great outcomes for clients.

As demonstrated by his love of ultra-endurance racing outside of work, Todd is a driven individual. He believes the UK wealth management industry to be fragmented and in need of unification. 'Great leadership can ensure unity of effort, high levels of motivation and excellent client service, resulting in significant business growth and market share,' he says.

He also pursues a world where private wealth management is better informed by data analytics. 'With the right access to financial data, the knowledge of what to look for and a network of connected businesses and individuals, you can predict business sales, and the right advice can be brought to private clients pre-exit,' he explains.

Todd has championed the creation of a data analytics team in Barclays Private Bank for four years and is 'pleased to report we now have demonstrable success in this field'.

Throughout his time with Barclays Private Bank as a banker and business leader, Todd understands why he does what he does. 'I enjoy creating a wealth strategy for clients, to provide confidence that personal aspirations and family security can be achieved, and allowing them to enjoy their wealth,' he says. 'With a healthy relationship of challenge, counsel and longevity, a client will trust their banker, gain confidence in the path set, enjoy the time they have with their family and engage in their passions.'