Barclays Names Kalaris Executive Chairman of the Americas

Barclays PLC announces Wednesday it promoted Thomas L. Kalaris to the newly created role of Executive Chairman of the Americas.

The company said in a press release that the role was crated "because of the importance of the Americas businesses in Barclays portfolio and strategy and will better enable Barclays to position its businesses optimally for the changing industry environment."Kalaris will retain his executive committee responsibilities as chief executive of Barclays' wealth and investment management division, as well as chairing its client committee. He will relocate from London to New York as part of the new postion.

Kalaris will work with Jerry del Missier, co-chief executive of Barclays' corporate and investment banking division and chief executive of the Americas. Both will Co-Chair the Barclays Americas management team, which will be responsible for capital, funding, risk appetite and the control environment across the businesses that operate in the region, as well as review and recommend the strategy for the Americas. Kalaris will also join del Missier on Barclays Americas Governance and Control Committee.Prior to taking up his current position in January 2006, Kalaris was chief executive of the Americas and head of distribution and research at Barclays Capital in New York. In addition, he oversaw all of Barclays investment and wholesale commercial banking activities in the Americas. Kalaris has worked for Barclays since September 1996, after 18 years at JPMorgan, where he held a number of roles, including head of fixed income sales, trading and research, and was responsible for all activities with investors in the United States.

Matt Ackermann writes for Financial Planning.