This move by one of Britain's oldest banks reflects the growing percentage of women in leadership roles in private banks in the UK and beyond.

Weatherbys, the UK private bank, has named former Close Brothers director Shirley Coe as senior private banker joining the team serving its expanding client base.

Her appointment is to a newly-created role within the bank which said that Coe is a passionate advocate for empowering women in finance. She has recently returned from a stint in Singapore where she worked for the Global CIO Office. Prior to moving to Asia in 2019, Coe served in director roles at Close Brothers Asset Management and Coutts, both in the UK and Singapore, in addition to senior client roles at South African-based BoE Private Bank, according to a Weatherbys' release earlier this week.

"Shirley has immense experience working with private clients and a proven track record in business development. We are delighted that she joins us as our bank continues to grow from strength to strength,” Ollie Barnett, director at Weatherbys, said. "We have continued to perform extremely well across our entire offering throughout 2021, most notably in our investment and wealth advice service, which is testament to the quality of our people and the proposition.”

Coe’s career has seen her as a frontrunner for empowering women in finance, the company said. She co-founded the Coutts Women's Network in 2010 and has also been a mentor for The 30% Club, the campaign group of senior executives taking action to increase gender diversity on boards and in senior management teams. 

Most recently, Coe has consulted for the WealthiHer Network, which focuses on the financial empowerment of women by bringing the financial services industry together to understand and champion women as both professionals and clients.

Coe is not the first female appointment to one of Britain’s oldest private banks. Last year, the firm appointed Fiona Noonan as general counsel.

Weatherbys has offices in London, Wellingborough, Edinburgh, Newmarket, Edinburgh, Penrith, Billingshurst and Swindon. Its private bank - launched in 1994 - is part of Weatherbys Banking Group, a UK family-owned business with origins dating back to 1770; its website states that it is “founded on relationships.”

The firm has been broadening out its client base beyond its traditional sphere of horse racing and the associated bloodstock industry.