Barclays creates top climate and citizenship role

(Sharecast News) - Barclays has appointed its group chief of staff to a new executive committee post overseeing the bank's climate and social policies.
Sasha Wiggins will be the bank's head of public policy and corporate responsibility reporting directly to Chief Executive Jes Staley. She will be one of two women on the bank's executive committee.

Wiggins will be in charge of implementing the bank's new climate change policy, which it has aligned with the 2015 Paris agreement after pressure from shareholders. Barclays, Europe's biggest financier of fossil fuels, has said that after the plan was approved by shareholders it will consult groups in the coming months to develop its strategy and targets.

The bank said Wiggins would also be responsible for sustainability and citizenship activities as companies come under greater pressure to make a social contribution as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Wiggins joined Barclays in 2002 and ran the bank's Irish operation and east and south east corporate banking business before becoming chief of staff in 2018.

Staley said: "Barclays' role in, and engagement with society is critically important to the success and sustainability of the company, and accountability for that agenda should be fully represented at the executive management level of the bank.

"Sasha's broad banking knowledge and, most importantly, her ability to build strong relationships of trust, and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, make her the ideal candidate for this critically important role."