Francesca has a portfolio that blends commercial non-executive director positions with not-for-profit roles. Currently: non-executive director of Coutts & Co (chair of the Audit Committee and the Risk Committee) and Capvis Private Equity (Funds II, III & IV) and chair of Penny Brohn UK. Until mid-2016 Francesca was also a non-executive director of Electra Private Equity plc. She has chaired two secondary schools: The Bridge Academy, Hackney (2009-2016) and the Henrietta Barnett School (1997-2005).
Francesca Barnes retired in 2008 from a 27 year career in finance that culminated in her being the Global Head of UBS Private Equity from 2001-2008. She was appointed to the UBS-Investment Bank Board in 2004 and chaired the UBS-IB Development Board. Francesca had joined Swiss Bank Corporation in 1993 to run the UK loan restructuring business, before moving to Education, to Leveraged Finance and from 1998 - 2001 to the role of Global Loan Portfolio Manager where she oversaw the multi-billion dollar strategic risk reduction of the loan book. She started her financial career at Chase Manhattan Bank in 1980 where she worked in commodity finance in the US and UK, financial institutions and Chase Private Equity. She left Chase in 1991 to take an 18 month leave of absence to travel extensively.
Francesca read Geography at St Hugh’s College, Oxford.
Francesca enjoys investing effort in fitness, cycling, golf and charity event fundraising.