Michael Barrington-Hibbert is a trusted adviser to boards, CEOs and senior executives across the global market infrastructure ecosystem, including exchanges, clearing houses, custodians, trading platforms and market data providers.
Based in London, he works with leadership teams navigating structural change in capital markets as electronic trading, data-driven platforms and emerging technologies reshape how financial markets operate. His work often sits at the intersection of leadership, operating model transformation, and market structure evolution, helping organisations build the executive capability required to scale complex global platforms and sustain long-term institutional resilience.
Focused on leadership performance and opportunity
- Michael’s advisory work frequently focuses on organisations whose businesses are built around market platforms, trading ecosystems, and data networks. As financial markets become increasingly digitised, firms are rethinking how leadership teams align technology, product, operations and commercial strategy to support new platform-based models.
- He advises clients on C-suite succession, leadership team composition and senior appointments across operating, technology and commercial leadership roles that are central to modern market infrastructure businesses. He works closely with boards and executive teams as organisations adapt to shifts in regulation, digital assets, artificial intelligence and the continued evolution of electronic markets.
- Before joining Spencer Stuart, Michael founded Barrington Hibbert Associates, a transatlantic executive search firm with offices in London and New York. Over 15 years, the firm advised publicly listed companies, private equity-backed businesses, and founder-led organisations on senior leadership appointments across financial services.
- Michael is a frequent commentator on leadership and talent trends in financial markets and has been featured in outlets including Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Sky News and the BBC. He is the author of The €40 Billion Pay Gap, examining executive compensation and its impact on organisational culture.
He supports initiatives focused on expanding opportunity in education and professional careers, including the 10,000 Interns Foundation and Inspire Through Sports. Michael is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Binghamton University and completed the Strategic Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.