Barclaycard chief leaving card issuer to focus on civil liberties issues in Trump era

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The head of the Wilmington-based U.S. credit business of British banking giant Barclays will  retire and focus on civil liberties issues.

Barclaycard International CEO Amer Sajed will step down in  July. Bloomberg reported  Sajed plans to work with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups  on  what  he views as threats to civil liberties coming out of the Trump administration.

The administration has imposed a travel ban from selected countries with majority Muslim populations. The initial executive order was modified after court defeats and an updated order is also facing a court battle.

Jes Staley, group chief executive said: “Amer has made a huge contribution to the growth and development of Barclaycard during his ten years with Barclays, the last two of which have seen him lead that business globally.

“He has been a passionate and effective CEO for his people, an authority for Barclays on the fast moving world of cards and payments, and a strong colleague to me and to his peers on the Group Executive Committee. We wish Amer and his family every happiness, and especially in pursuing his passion for the promotion of civil liberties, and contributing to the community where he lives, which he intends to make his focus following his retirement.”

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In commenting on his decision Sajed stated:  “After ten incredible years at Barclays, and decades in the financial services industry, I have decided to retire and pursue a new passion.  I am proud to have been part of nearly doubling the number of customers of Barclaycard and quadrupling our profits in my decade at the bank, but I shall always be proudest of the amazing people I have worked with here who have made our business the best and most innovative credit card company in the world. I wish them even more success for the future.”

According to Bloomberg Sajed immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan as a college student.

 Barclays will look at internal and external options for the future leadership of its international consumer cards and payments business following Mr Sajed’s retirement.

Sajed had been viewed as a star at the bank, Bloomberg reported, citing the profitability of the credit card business.

Barclays card unit came to Delaware with the purchase of Juniper, a credit card and financial services start-up launched by former executives of First USA. First USA’s successor company Chase also has its credit card headquarters in Wilmington.

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