Leaders with Joseph Cass Barclays CEO Venkat on The UK Economy, AI & Cricket
Nov 20, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Venkat, CEO of Barclays, shares his insights on the future of the UK economy, advocating for responsible finance and higher growth. Saugata Saha, President at S&P Global Market Intelligence, highlights the transformative role of AI in finance and the challenges of data transparency. Both guests bond over their passion for cricket, with Venkat reminiscing about his global experiences and supporting women's cricket. They also delve into the implications of private markets and the exciting prospects of tokenization in the financial landscape.
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London's Enduring Financial Advantage
- London retains unique soft power through legal, cultural and financial infrastructure built over centuries.
- Venkat argues UK growth must rise from ~1–1.25% to about 2% to materially improve outcomes.
Banks As Growth Catalysts
- The financial sector supplies capital, allocates risk and is ~10% of UK employment and GDP.
- Venkat says banks can help by funding growth and attracting investors to keep London a global hub.
S&P's Hands-On AI Product Push
- Saugata describes S&P's push to make data AI-ready and embed AI into flagship products.
- He highlights features like ChatIQ, Document Intelligence and ChartIQ on Capital IQ Pro as examples.