Replacing Bob Diamond, who left the business earlier this year under a cloud in the wake of the LIBOR scandal, Jenkins has been named director and group chief executive.
Jenkins has been a member of the group executive committee of Barclays since 2009.
As chief executive of its retail and business banking arm, Jenkins had responsibility for retail banking in Barclays Africa and Absa, and also represents Barclays as a non‑executive director on the Board of Absa Group Limited and Absa Bank Limited.
His appointment will be very much seen as a departure away from the previous hierarchy at the bank.
Marcus Agius, Barclays Chairman who is leaving the group shortly, said: “The Board ensured that the process to select the new Chief Executive was both rigorous and thorough.
“Antony stood out among a very competitive field of internal and external candidates because of his excellent track record transforming Barclaycard and Retail and Business Banking; his intimate knowledge of Barclays portfolio garnered over three years on the Group Executive Committee; his role in the development of the bank’s strategy; and his future vision for Barclays and plan to realise it.
“Antony’s appointment has the support of all the Directors; we are confident that, supported by the Board and the Executive Committee, he will work quickly to take the Group forward. With the appointment of Sir David Walker to succeed me as chairman in November, and of Antony as chief executive today, I am pleased that the new leadership of the bank is settled.”
