Barclays elevates David King to global head of technology M&A

Barclays has announced the appointment of David King as the new Global Head of Technology Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), a strategic move aiming to bolster its leadership in the tech sector. David King, with a robust 25-year background in investment banking focused on technology M&A, steps into this role having previously served as Global Co-Head of Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) M&A at Bank of America.

Key Appointment in Barclays’ Tech M&A Strategy

David King will operate out of San Francisco, reporting directly to Ihsan Essaid, the Global Head of M&A at Barclays. His role involves a close partnership with Kristin Roth DeClark, Global Head of Technology Investment Banking, aiming to drive forward Barclays’ initiatives in technology transactions. Over his career, King has played pivotal roles in over $300 billion worth of transactions, significantly shaping the technology landscape through high-profile deals. His expertise spans various sectors within technology, including software, hardware, semiconductors, and the internet.

Significantly, King has been instrumental in notable transactions such as Intel’s sale of a minority stake in its IMS Nanofabrication business and the NAND memory business to SK Hynix. He also guided Amazon in its acquisition of MGM and played a role in Alphabet’s investment in Bharti Airtel, among others. His return to Bank of America in 2020, after a stint at Deutsche Bank where he co-headed the Technology M&A team, marks a full circle in his banking career, reinforcing his leadership and execution capabilities in tech M&A.

Barclays’ Commitment to Tech Sector

The appointment reflects Barclays’ commitment to expanding its footprint in technology investment banking, a sector of critical importance to its M&A strategy. Ihsan Essaid and Kristin Roth DeClark have both expressed confidence in King’s ability to enhance the firm’s M&A franchise, citing his long-term connections within the tech community and his proven transaction execution skills.

“Technology is of critical importance to our M&A franchise, and is an area where we are laser focused on succeeding and delivering for our clients,” Essaid commented on King’s appointment. DeClark added, “David’s amazing reputation in the Technology industry and his deep M&A expertise will help us further accelerate the strong momentum in our business.”

This strategic appointment is expected to strengthen Barclays’ ability to manage large-scale tech transactions, demonstrating its continued investment in attracting leading talent to serve its clients effectively.

Barclays in Recent Technology Transactions

Recently, Barclays has been involved in several significant technology deals, including acting as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Nuvei Corporation in its $6.0 billion private acquisition by Advent International. They also advised IBM on its $7.7 billion acquisition of HashiCorp, illustrating their active role in shaping the tech sector’s landscape through strategic transactions.