Barclays has announced the appointment of Antony Stephen as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Barclays Partner Finance (BPF) business, and its legal entity, Clydesdale Financial Services Ltd (CFSL). The appointment is effective October 4, 2021.

Antony Stephen joins from Amazon and brings over 25 years of experience in payments and financial services. Through his most recent role as Head of Amazon Payments Europe, he led a $50+ billion portfolio of payment products including credit cards, instalment loans and a financial services marketplace.

As CEO of Barclays Partner Finance, Mr Stephen will report to Ruchir Rodrigues, Head of Barclays Cubed & Consumer Bank Europe, with a focus on growing the point-of-sale finance business in the UK. Mr Stephen will also provide senior leadership to Barclays Cubed, Barclays’ next-generation commerce platform, designed to create value for consumers and merchants through the payments ecosystem.

Barclays Partner Finance is one of the UK’s leading providers of point-of-sale finance and regulated BNPL lending, working with world-class retailers to enable consumers to purchase products and spread the cost in a responsible and transparent way.

Antony Stephen said:

“This is an incredibly exciting time for point of sale finance – while the core business model has existed for a long time, it has surged in popularity and prominence in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology and changes in customer behaviour. With its unrivalled network of both consumers and major retailers, Barclays recognises the fantastic opportunity it has to lead the market, and I’m thrilled to be joining the bank at this pivotal moment.”

Welcoming Antony Stephen’s appointment, Ruchir Rodrigues, commented:

“I am delighted that Antony is joining Barclays to lead our point-of-sale finance business, and that we’re able to attract talent of his calibre. Antony’s global experience with an industry-leading firm like Amazon and his passion for customer centricity will be invaluable in driving this business forward. His vision and leadership will add immense value to the team as we continue to create tangible value for the consumers and merchants that we serve”.