Ian Woods Brings Two Decades of M&A Muscle to Barclays' Industrial Banking Division

From Deutsche Bank to Wall Street Power Player

Barclays has tapped Ian Woods to take on a major leadership role in its Industrials Investment Banking arm, marking another strategic shift in the bank’s positioning across the industrial and building products sectors. Woods, who spent his recent tenure at Deutsche Bank as a Managing Director focused on Building Products and Diversified Industrials, now assumes the title of Vice Chairman for Industrials Investment Banking and will be headquartered in New York.

The move signals Barclays’ commitment to strengthening its foothold in the building products and distribution markets—two sectors that have seen considerable M&A activity in recent years. Woods will report directly to John Lange, the Global Head of Energy and co-lead on the Industrials side, alongside Spyros Svoronos, who was promoted to Global Co-Head of Industrials Investment Banking just months earlier.

A Track Record Spanning Two Decades

With over 20 years navigating the investment banking landscape, Woods brings serious deal-making credentials. His career reads like a highlight reel of significant transactions: he played a key role in Foundation Building Materials’ acquisition of Marjam Supply, the exit of Springs Window Fashions via AEA and BCI, Westlake Chemical’s move to snap up Boral North America, and the strategic merger that brought Champion Enterprises and Skyline Corp together.

Before landing at Deutsche Bank, Woods held senior positions at some of the industry’s biggest names—Jefferies, RBC Capital Markets, and UBS all had him working on Building Products mandates. His earlier experience at Bear Stearns included stints covering industrials and transportation sectors.

Why This Matters for Barclays

According to John Lange, Woods’ deep-rooted relationships within the Building Products and Distribution ecosystems, paired with his proven transaction execution skills, position him as a valuable addition to Barclays’ industrial banking platform. “His leadership track record and client relationships will drive meaningful value creation for our clients,” Lange noted.

This appointment arrives as Barclays continues expanding its industrial banking capabilities, a push that gained momentum with the recent elevation of Svoronos to co-head the division. The bank is clearly making a bet that the industrial and building products spaces represent significant opportunity—and bringing in Woods’ experience is part of that broader strategy.