Jeffrey Barden Email & Phone Number

United States

I launched Ascendence Consulting LLC, a consulting and advisory firm, to assist leadership teams to realize their strategic ambitions and achieve excellence in their operations. My goal is to help them maximize their own strengths and capabilities, address the issues holding them back, and win competitive distinctiveness. As a seasoned executive from some of the world’s largest banking organizations, I bring actionable insights from my own experience to some of the most critical strategic challenges: growth, turnaround, leadership transition, regulatory and risk management, and performance improvement.

Boston, Ma, Us

London, Gb

I rejoined HSBC to help drive a comprehensive turnaround of the US business and subsequently expanded my scope to develop strategy for the newly formed Americas region. My principal areas of focus included streamlining the wholesale banking business and growing cross-border revenues, developing a targeted wealth and retail banking segmentation strategy, right-sizing the operating model and balance sheet, and increasing cross-line of business revenue synergies. I led four divestitures from inception to close to restructure the retail business. Other activities have included extensive regulatory engagement, development of ESG/sustainable finance strategy, corporate development and external partnerships, the transition of a new Group and US CEO, and coordination of the COVID-19 response and ‘future of work’ planning. I assumed the role of Chairman, HSBC Asset Management USA in 2020 and took executive sponsorship of VALOR, an internal organization aimed at supporting veterans in the workplace, in 2021.

New York, Ny, Us

Returning to the US, I joined Consumer and Community Banking as a senior executive in the internal strategy function as well as to lead new business development and external partnerships for Business Banking. Alongside development of a multi-year strategic plan for Chase Small Business, involving market expansion, product development, and technology/digital investment, I led a dedicated team committed to delivering innovative banking solutions to clients. Developed in collaboration with fintech partners, these innovations, such as digital lending, integrated invoicing, and a multi-product application, helped boost revenues and improve client experience.

London, Gb

I relocated to London to help craft the strategic agenda for Global Commercial Banking, including ambitious organic growth strategies in payments, trade, and cross-border banking. I also partnered with Global Retail Banking and Wealth Management to optimize the global retail branch footprint to support both small business and retail clients in key international cities. I was routinely deployed to different countries around the Group to solve complex business challenges in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, including the pre-Brexit strategic review of HSBC’s global headquarters.

London, Gb

As the Chief Risk Administration Officer and deputy to the COO, I managed day-to-day operations and streamlining initiatives for the Technology & Services organization, conducted a strategic review of the US dollar clearing operations, engaged closely with regulators on remediation, implemented the initial bank recovery and resolution plan, and established a comprehensive controls oversight and improvement program for the US bank. Earlier, as SVP Strategy & Development, I facilitated a multi-year bank transformation plan, targeting $1bn cost reduction through re-engineering and IT infrastructure overhaul while completing the divestiture of HSBC USA’s Cards and Upstate NY retail franchise.

London, Gb

I joined HSBC to implement the strategic agenda for the 800-branch consumer and mortgage lending sales network, with emphasis on business growth, incentives & performance management, branch operations & technology, and new operational models. I also had the opportunity to run a direct-only mortgage sales operation. Following the mortgage crisis, I orchestrated the wind-down of the US consumer lending business and transitioned to a strategic role within HR, focused on commercializing and transforming the function.

Solon, Oh, Us

I moved into an operating role at Saint-Gobain to run a $35MM specialty composites business serving a broad portfolio of global customers. I held management oversight of global sales, marketing, and manufacturing teams in Europe, Brazil, China, France, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan. I also partnered closely with my global product development team to turnaround profitability by streamlining the product line and revising the pricing strategy, while continuing to invest in new product development – earning recognition by an Innovation Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

As a strategy consultant and project leader, I focused on developing business solutions to complex problems for Global Fortune 100 clients, with particular emphasis on defining and launching new business ventures, organizational restructurings, and strategic partnerships and acquisitions in the industrial, technology, aerospace, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

My career began as a military officer, serving in multiple overseas assignments and later as an instructor in the mountain phase of the elite US Army Ranger Course. I developed expertise in strategy and tactics, leadership, and teamwork while operating in high-risk environments. Importantly, the discipline and drive to excel, situational awareness and adaptability, and sense of commitment that I learned in the Army have shaped the rest of my career.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Institutional Finance / Corporate Finance

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Politics