The professional body for HR
Karen Barnett is Chief People Officer and Executive Committee member at the British Business Bank, with a career spanning over 30 years across asset management, wealth management, capital markets, and most recently public investment.
She began her career in asset management, where she spent over two decades helping to build and shape organisational culture through growth, demerger, and acquisition. She has since worked in senior HR leadership roles across financial services, partnering closely with leadership teams through periods of transformation, growth and significant change, and joined the British Business Bank in 2023.
Karen is a trusted adviser to Chairs, CEOs and Boards, specialising in culture, governance, executive reward and organisational risk, with a strong track record in complex, regulated environments.
She is passionate about the role HR can play in building high performing, values led organisations, and in strengthening the credibility and impact of the profession. She is particularly committed to improving youth employment outcomes and creating pathways into meaningful careers.
Karen is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and is known for her thoughtful, pragmatic and collaborative approach to people and organisational leadership.
