Barclays Bank has appointed supermarket design expert Helen Dodd to revamp its branch network.
Currently the format & design director for Tesco Stores, Dodd will take up her new position as Barclays' head of network development in January 2007. In this role she will be responsible for the format and design of Barclays' high street branches, and the design and delivery of corporate wear to 30,000 plus frontline staff.
At Tesco, Dodd introduced the retailers' upmarket store in Kensington, standalone non food stores, and the new Express fascias in London.
In February, Barclays announced a project to redesign over 1500 branches nationwide to make them more appealing to customers. The initiative was the first to be directly overseen by Deanna Oppenheimer, the bank's new chief operating officer who was recruited from Washington Mutual.
The bank is also consolidating its high street network and merging its physical locations with those of mortgage lending subsidiary Woolwich.
Commenting on Dodd's appointment, Oppenheimer says: "As a financial service retailer we are in the customer business and it’s clear that they want the choice to use a branch. Our focus now is on delivering a positive experience to them every time they do and in this the concept, design and format of our branches is a key component.
"Helen brings us a wealth of retail store experience gained from innovating at some of the top UK retailers. I am looking forward to ideas that move us much closer to the best of the High Street. After all banks are retailers even if our customers leave us with a financial solution rather than a carrier bag."