Matthew Barrett
Encyclopedia
Matthew William Barrett, (born September 20, 1944) is an Irish Canadian
banker who until 2006 was the Chairman of Barclays Bank.
Born in County Kerry
, Ireland, he attended the Christian Brothers School in Kells, County Meath
, and attended the Harvard Business School
Advanced Management Programme in 1981.
He started his banking career in the London
office of the Bank of Montreal
(BMO) in 1962, and moved from London to Canada in 1967. In 1976 he left BMO for a 9-month period when he joined the Royal Bank of Canada, but returned to the Bank of Montreal after this brief period. By 1987 he had become President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Montreal. In 1990 he was elected Chairman of the Bank of Montreal, where he worked for more than 30 years.
After serving a short stint as Chairman of Irish state-owned bank ACCBank
, he returned to Britain on joining Barclays on 1 October 1999 as Group Chief Executive. (The move followed a proposed merger of the Bank of Montreal with the Royal Bank of Canada
being turned down by the competition authorities: "I'd be fibbing if I said that it was not a blow at the time.")
He then became Chairman in 2004, and retired on 31 December 2006, succeeded by Marcus Agius
.
Barrett is twice divorced (married Irene Korsak c. 1967, divorced 1995; married Anne-Marie Sten, 1997), with four children from his first marriage. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in 1994, and has dual Irish and Canadian citizenship.
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
banker who until 2006 was the Chairman of Barclays Bank.
Born in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland, he attended the Christian Brothers School in Kells, County Meath
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
, and attended the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
Advanced Management Programme in 1981.
He started his banking career in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
office of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
(BMO) in 1962, and moved from London to Canada in 1967. In 1976 he left BMO for a 9-month period when he joined the Royal Bank of Canada, but returned to the Bank of Montreal after this brief period. By 1987 he had become President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Montreal. In 1990 he was elected Chairman of the Bank of Montreal, where he worked for more than 30 years.
After serving a short stint as Chairman of Irish state-owned bank ACCBank
ACCBank
ACCBank plc is a commercial bank in Ireland that focuses on agriculture and SME lending. The bank has its origins in the Agricultural Credit Corporation set up in 1927 in the Irish Free State to finance agriculture, the bank was successful and lead to the creation of the Industrial Credit Company...
, he returned to Britain on joining Barclays on 1 October 1999 as Group Chief Executive. (The move followed a proposed merger of the Bank of Montreal with the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
being turned down by the competition authorities: "I'd be fibbing if I said that it was not a blow at the time.")
He then became Chairman in 2004, and retired on 31 December 2006, succeeded by Marcus Agius
Marcus Agius
Marcus Ambrose Paul Agius is a British financier and businessman, currently the Chairman of Barclays. He has also been appointed the senior non-executive director on the BBC's new executive board.-Biography:...
.
Barrett is twice divorced (married Irene Korsak c. 1967, divorced 1995; married Anne-Marie Sten, 1997), with four children from his first marriage. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1994, and has dual Irish and Canadian citizenship.