The private banking division of Barclays has grown its presence in Spain by hiring Juan Vilarrasa as head of private bank coverage, based in Madrid.
He will be responsible for connecting family offices and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) clients in Spain to Barclays Private Bank’s (BPB) European bankers and product specialists.
Vilarrasa spent the last five years developing a technology platform and wellness app, and prior to that, he was part of the equity capital markets and corporate finance team at Barclays.
His appointment marks the private bank’s latest expansion push, after it established teams in Italy, France and Singapore this year alone.
European growth
Jean-Christophe Gerard, chief executive of BPB, said: “Barclays Private Bank has significant potential in Europe, and I am pleased we have been able to end the year investing for future growth in Spain by enhancing our position in European private banking.
“Having Juan on the ground in Madrid will allow us to bring Barclays’ global network and our investment and banking experience, insights and tailored opportunities to family offices and UHNW clients in Spain to enable them to invest in, and influence the future.”
Álvaro Portanet, country chief executive of Barclays Spain, added: “I look forward to collaborating with Juan to deliver solutions to clients in Spain who are seeking access to sophisticated investment opportunities.
“We have a strong corporate and investment bank presence in Spain which will enable us to bring bespoke solutions and banking products to domestic clients.”
