Finance

Boutique investment bank Fenchurch hires Barclays' Chawla as US co-head, sources say

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 28, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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Boutique investment bank Fenchurch hires Barclays' Chawla as US co-head, sources say
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By David French NEW YORK (Reuters) -Fenchurch Advisory Partners, the boutique investment bank focused on the financial services industry, is hiring Gautam Chawla as co-head of its operations in the

Fenchurch Advisory Partners Appoints Gautam Chawla as US Co-Head

Fenchurch's Leadership Changes

By David French

Background of Gautam Chawla

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Fenchurch Advisory Partners, the boutique investment bank focused on the financial services industry, is hiring Gautam Chawla as co-head of its operations in the United States, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Fenchurch's Growth and Operations

Chawla will join the firm in November from Barclays, where he has been serving as global co-head of its financial institutions group, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the move, which has not been announced publicly.

At Fenchurch, an affiliate of French investment bank Natixis, Chawla will work alongside John Sipp, the current head of the bank's U.S. operations who joined Fenchurch when it opened its office in New York in 2022. 

Fenchurch declined comment. Barclays did not respond to a request for  comment.

Chawla has more than 30 years of investment banking experience, with the last five years at Barclays. Prior to that, he spent nearly three decades at Citigroup, including as co-head of global insurance investment banking, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Fenchurch was founded in London in 2003 by Malik Karim, a veteran dealmaker and former treasurer of Britain's Conservative Party. It has subsequently grown to around 70 bankers in London, Paris and New York, all focused on providing advisory services to financial companies on mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, and shareholder activism.

(Reporting by David French in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Key Takeaways

  • Fenchurch Advisory Partners hires Gautam Chawla as US co-head.
  • Chawla joins from Barclays, where he was global co-head of financial institutions.
  • Fenchurch focuses on financial services advisory.
  • Chawla has over 30 years of investment banking experience.
  • Fenchurch is an affiliate of Natixis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gautam Chawla?
Gautam Chawla is a seasoned investment banker with over 30 years of experience, most recently serving as global co-head of Barclays' financial institutions group.
What role will Chawla have at Fenchurch?
Chawla will be the co-head of Fenchurch Advisory Partners' operations in the United States, joining the firm in November.
What is Fenchurch Advisory Partners?
Fenchurch Advisory Partners is a boutique investment bank focused on the financial services industry, founded in London in 2003.
How many bankers does Fenchurch have?
Fenchurch has grown to around 70 bankers across its offices in London, Paris, and New York.
What was Chawla's previous experience before Barclays?
Before joining Barclays, Chawla spent nearly three decades at Citigroup, where he was co-head of global insurance.

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