Barclays Appoints Cathy Leonhardt as Global Head of Retail Within Investment Banking

September 03, 2024 at 12:30 PM EDT

With nearly 30 years of Investment Banking experience, Ms. Leonhardt brings to Barclays deep client relationships and industry knowledge that will further strengthen the firm’s Consumer and Retail Group in Investment Banking.

Barclays today announces the appointment of Cathy Leonhardt as Global Head of Retail within Investment Banking. Ms. Leonhardt will be based in New York, and will report to Lowell Strug, Global Head of Consumer and Retail Group.

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Barclays appoints Cathy Leonhardt as Global Head of Retail within Investment Banking (Photo: Business Wire)

Ms. Leonhardt has over 28 years of investment banking experience advising management teams and boards on strategically important domestic and cross-border transactions in the Consumer and Retail sectors. She joins Barclays from Solomon Partners where she was a Partner and the Co-Head of Consumer Retail Investment Banking. Ms. Leonhardt joined Solomon Partners in 2003, and has advised on transactions across retail, apparel and consumer sectors including PVH's sale of Warners and Heritage Brands, the sale of Rag & Bone, PVH’s acquisitions of Tommy Hilfiger and Warnaco Group, and Walmart in its divestitures of its DTC brands in 2023.

Prior to joining Solomon Partners, from 1996 Ms. Leonhardt was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley in their M&A Group. While there, she advised on Sears’ acquisition of Land’s End, Tommy Hilfiger Corporation’s acquisition of Tommy Europe, Jones Apparel’s acquisition of McNaughton, the merger of Monsanto and Pharmacia, Georgia-Pacific’s spin-off of The Timber Company to Plum Creek, and the sale of Donna Karan’s beauty business to Estée Lauder. Ms. Leonhardt began her career in 1992 at Wachovia in their US Corporate Banking Group.

“As the Consumer and Retail sector continues to evolve and experience accelerating pace of change, our clients more than ever depend on Barclays for strategic advice and seamless execution,” said Lowell Strug, Global Head of Consumer and Retail Group. “As a strategic hire for our investment banking business, Cathy’s deep relationships in the Consumer and Retail space, combined with her extensive transaction experience and proven leadership qualities, will be of enormous value to our clients and colleagues.”

“The Consumer and Retail space represents a critical opportunity-set for our investment banking business, and the team has seen consistently outstanding results in the sector over the years, playing major roles in a number of landmark transactions,” added Taylor Wright, Global Co-Head of Banking. “Cathy will ensure that we build on our business strengths and momentum, and continue to drive mind and market share with our clients. We are delighted to welcome Cathy to Barclays.”

About Barclays

Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays.

About Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank

Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank is comprised of the Investment Banking, International Corporate Banking, Global Markets and Research businesses. It provides money managers, financial institutions, governments, supranational organisations and corporate clients with services and advice for their funding, financing, strategic and risk management needs. For further information about Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank, please visit our website www.cib.barclays.