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Sir Alan Yarrow appointed chairman of Metropolitan Safe Custody

2 December 2025

Metropolitan Safe Custody Limited today announces the appointment of Sir Alan Yarrow who has succeeded Paul Selway-Swift as non-executive chairman of the company. Sir Alan has been a shareholder since 2007 and joined the company’s board as non-executive director and chairman-elect on 21st October 2025. Paul Selway-Swift has decided to retire, having served 18 years on the board, but remains a shareholder of the company.

Sir Alan has had a distinguished career in the City. He held senior positions in investment banking at Dresdner Kleinwort. He joined stockbrokers Grieveson Grant in 1972, becoming a partner in 1981. After becoming head of UK institutional sales in 1989, and head of global distribution in 1992, he became managing director of Kleinwort Benson Securities in 1994. He was appointed to the Kleinwort Benson Group Board in 1995 and left in 2009, after serving as group vice-chairman and chairman of the UK Bank. On Kleinwort Benson’s merger with Belgium-based RHJ International, he was appointed chairman of the Kleinwort Benson Holdings Board, later becoming senior advisor to the Group.

Sir Alan has been deputy chairman of the practitioner panel of the Financial Services Authority, now called Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the body that regulates our trading companies, Metropolitan Safe Deposits Limited and Metropolitan Vaults Limited. He is a former chairman of the London Investment Bank Association (LIBA). He also served on the Council of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) and the Takeover Panel. He served as chairman of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) from 2009 until his retirement in 2018. CISI is a global professional body that sets the highest standards of professional excellence in a broad range of financial services disciplines.

Sir Alan’s many civic duties have included being appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2007, a Sheriff of the City of London for 2011-12, and Lord Mayor of London for 2014-15. As Lord Mayor, he acted as the internationally recognised ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector, as well as the head of the City of London Corporation, the governing body of the Square Mile. The role is an unpaid, full-time, and apolitical position that involves the promotion of the City’s business interests through extensive travel, hosting foreign dignitaries, and advising the government. Sir Alan was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for “services to international business, inclusion and the City of London”.

Christopher Barrow, chief executive of Metropolitan Safe Custody, said “the Board and shareholders have greatly valued Paul Selway-Swift’s composed leadership and dedicated service to the company during these past 18 years since we acquired the business in 2007. His long and distinguished career in banking, together with his calm and rational approach, have provided a stable and consistent direction for the company. We are thrilled that Sir Alan Yarrow has accepted the role of chairman and, in particular, we look forward to receiving his advice on our strategic options for the company. His depth of knowledge and broad business experience will greatly support the ongoing development of our business. Like his predecessor, Sir Alan has been a significant shareholder since 2007”.

Sir Alan Yarrow said “I would like to thank Paul for his long and valuable contribution to Metropolitan Safe Custody. It is an honour to be appointed chairman of the leading safe deposit business in the UK, and to have the opportunity to help the company reach its full potential, which I believe to be considerable. I firmly believe that the company has a very exciting future as a growing business”.