The 32-year Barclays macro director who's having an enormous year
As we reported last week, Barclays has lost more rates sales people. James Hackett resigned, possibly to join his old colleague Cosimo Codacci-Pisanelli over at Goldman Sachs, although this is not confirmed. Karan Sofat, an up-and-coming junior rates sales guy is also understood to be leaving. Barclays will likely miss them both. However, it is fortunately still equipped with one of the hottest young rates sales people in London: Punitha Raja.
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We have not spoken to Raja for this article, but multiple Barclays insiders say he is having a monumental year. "He's exploded," says one. "He is probably the top producer now."
Raja, who is known as "Puni" has been a director at Barclays since 2019. He was promoted in September last year and is now thought to be running UK real money sales. Insiders say his ascension has been astonishing and that he will almost certainly be on this year's managing director (MD) list.
Raja graduated from the UK's University of the West of England, which ranks 39th in the Guardian University Guide and is not among banks' usual target schools. He began his career as a trading assistant, working in a support role.
"He came from humble beginnings," says one colleague. "He's worked his way up and it's been very impressive. I've seen tons of grads come and go and Raja is part of the new generation. He's a mix of old school sales who can pick up the phone, and someone who knows how to entertain clients in the Instagram era."
Raja's personal Instagram account is part of his appeal. Raja is a fan of bling and many of his images - mostly tongue in cheek - reflect this. "He's made it and he lives a glam life," says a former colleague. "He has a very bright future and is following in the footsteps of Filippo Zorzoli."
Raja is thought to work alongside Rumit Sawjani, Barclays' longstanding head of hedge funds and institutional rates sales.
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