London | British bank Barclays announced on Monday the immediate departure of its boss Jes Staley, the latter wishing to challenge the preliminary findings of an investigation by British financial regulators into his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the bank said in a statement.
The investigation “makes no finding that Mr. Staley saw or was aware of any of the alleged crimes of Mr. Epstein,” the financier accused of trafficking in minors and who has since committed suicide in prison , however, underlines the press release.
CS Venkatakrishnan, who until now was global head of markets for the Barclays group, will replace Staley on Monday, the bank said.
The bank revealed in February 2020 that Jes Staley, a 64-year-old American, was the target of this investigation, which did not prevent the company from renewing its trust in him.
“Barclays and Mr. Jes Staley, CEO of the group, were informed Friday evening of the preliminary findings” of this investigation launched by the two main British financial regulators, the FCA and the PRA, on the way in which Mr. Staley spoke with of his group his past business ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
“In view of these findings and Mr. Staley’s intention to challenge them, the Board of Directors and Mr. Staley have agreed that he will step down from his duties as Group Managing Director and Director of Barclays” , continues the British bank.
Mr. Staley had developed this business relationship in the 2000s when he headed the private banking arm of JPMorgan, which counted the American financier among its clients. He previously said his last contact with Epstein was in 2015.
The bank’s board of directors said it was “disappointed” with this outcome while “Mr. Staley has been leading the Barclays group successfully since December 2015 with real commitment and competence ”, refusing to“ comment further on the preliminary findings ”of the investigation while the proceedings“ have yet to take their course ”.
The FCA and PRA announced in a statement “not to comment on ongoing investigations or regulatory proceedings” beyond what has already been announced by the company.