Barclays has appointed a new group general counsel to succeed Bob Hoyt, who has stepped down after over seven years in the role.

Stephen Shapiro, who joined Barclays in 2017 as company secretary will take over as general counsel from August 1.

He will continue as company secretary alongside the general counsel role, a statement by the bank on Wednesday said. Meanwhile, Hoyt will remain at the bank until the end of 2020 in a vice-chairman role, where he will be advising CEO Jes Staley, among other executives.

Bob Hoyt

Shapiro joined Barclays from SABMiller plc where he group company secretary and deputy general counsel.

In a statement, Staley said: "Bob Hoyt has been an outstanding general counsel for Barclays. He was instrumental in guiding the group through many complex challenges that followed the financial crisis, and in resolving some of our biggest legacy conduct issues.

"In Stephen Shapiro we are fortunate to have such an eminently qualified, hugely experienced, and valued colleague in place to take over as general counsel for the group, and I look forward to working even more closely with him as he assumes his new responsibilities."