Marcus Agius (Chairman 2007-2012)

Marcus Agius (b 1946), joined Barclays on 1 September 2006 as a non-executive director and succeeded Matt Barrett as Chairman on 1 January 2007, after a long career with the investment bank Lazard which culminated in the chairmanship of its London branch, and service as chairman of BAA plc (2002-2006).

Educated at St George’s College, Weybridge, Cambridge University and Harvard Business School, Agius's career began with a graduate traineeship with Vickers.  He helped to steer Barclays through the credit crunch and economic crisis of 2007-2010, was appointed as one the government’s ‘business ambassadors’, attended in 2011 a meeting of the Bilderberg group, and served as chairman of the British Bankers Association.

On 2 July 2012 it was announced that Agius would resign following the disclosure of involvement by Barclays employees in the manipulation of Libor, but the next day it was announced that he would continue as caretaker Executive Chairman following the resignation of Bob Diamond as Chief Executive, until a new CEO could be appointed. With interests in the arts and gardening, he was formerly a non-executive director of the BBC and is currently chairman of the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens.