Barclays appointed Rafael Abati co-head of the energy transition group in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Abati will serve alongside fellow co-head Marie Freier.

Abati will report to Mike Cormier, the global head of the energy transition group at Barclays, and Tim Main, head of investment banking in the EMEA region at Barclays. With Freier, Abati will focus on deepening client relationships to help drive Barclays’ M&A and ECM share and maintain the bank’s position in this sector.

“Rafael’s deal experience in the power and energy sectors complements Marie’s expertise in climate-tech investment banking and sustainability research, of which both are material assets to Barclays as we seek to provide the capital and strategic advice for clients,” Cormier said. “Our team is now strongly positioned globally, and particularly in Europe, to support electrification and decarbonization initiatives for our clients, especially in hard to abate sectors.”

Abati joined Barclays with almost 20 years of experience from UBS and Credit Suisse, where he was head of energy and infrastructure M&A for Europe and head of M&A for Iberia. He has connections with power and energy clients and an origination and execution track record, having advised on strategic transactions for clients including EDP, Iberdrola, IFM, EQT, CVC, Naturgy, Enel and Repsol.

“At the core of our investment banking strategy is a commitment to consistently focus, align and deliver against our priority clients with a solutions-driven mindset. Rafael and Marie will make a formidable leadership team for our EMEA ETG franchise, and I’m excited about the ability to advance our leadership position in differentiated client coverage,” Cathal Deasy, co-head of investment banking at Barclays, said.

Barclays has a target to facilitate $1 trillion of sustainable and transition financing by the end of 2030.