Preview: Amanda Staveley on Her 'Ballsy' Barclays Rescue Plan

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Leaders with Francine Lacqua — Preview: Amanda Staveley on Her 'Ballsy' Barclays Rescue Plan

Host: Francine Lacqua (Bloomberg)
Guest: Amanda Staveley, CEO of PCP Capital Partners
Date: July 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This preview episode teases an in-depth conversation between Francine Lacqua and Amanda Staveley, focusing on Staveley’s legendary role in orchestrating the dramatic Barclays rescue plan during the financial crisis. The discussion highlights her strategic thinking, risk appetite, and the skills that made her one of the UK’s most prominent dealmakers, especially at a time when immediate, bold action was required.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seizing Opportunities in a Crisis

• Amanda Staveley recounts the background:
  When Barclays faced existential risk during the financial crisis, Amanda recognized a "big opportunity" as markets were in turmoil and funding was desperately needed.
  • Staveley: “That was ballsy. Yeah, that was ballsy. That was brave. But when you’re 34, you’ve got a lot less to lose. I was very convinced about my business plan.” (00:45–00:55)

2. Outmaneuvering Major Investment Banks

• Staveley explains the competitive landscape:
  Despite not having the capital up-front, she was in direct competition with major global institutions—yet leaned on her intimate market knowledge, analytical skills, and an extraordinary work ethic to deliver where others hesitated.
  • Staveley: “I absolutely knew that Barclays would go and look for an external bailout...” (00:51)
  • Lacqua: “Are you competing with big investment banks? So is there a UBS trying to find a deal?” (01:53)
  • Staveley: “Yes. But I just focused. I also knew the market very, very well. I knew that I could raise the money, but I couldn’t convince anyone else on that.” (01:59)

3. The Lone Operator & Personal Due Diligence

• Amanda’s hands-on approach:
  Without a large team, she personally ran her due diligence, built financial models, and conducted analyses, relying only on her own resourcefulness and a Bloomberg terminal.
  • Staveley: "I’m very numerate... I used to do all my own models and I have my Bloomberg terminal, so, you know, always a good idea. And that was all I had at this point." (01:39–01:53)
  • Lacqua: “That’s why...this is why it’s quite extraordinary.” (01:37)

4. Facing Insomnia and Relentless Pressure

• Extreme personal commitment:
  Staveley describes periods of sleeplessness as she scrambled to raise £3.5 billion in three weeks—solely managing calls, writing business plans, and pitching investors globally.
  • Staveley: “I mean, I didn’t sleep for four or five days. I’m literally on phone calls, raising money, writing my notes, my business plan.” (02:00–02:18)

5. Strategic Alliances & Global Investor Trust

• Navigating global relationships:
  She discusses ongoing negotiations with powerful funds and royals from the Gulf region, highlighting the importance of trust and speed.
  • Staveley: “We’d spoken to His Highness, obviously, Sheikh Mansell, and they were brilliant and IPIC were really backing, but we were also speaking to the Q8, Saudi, China CIC and we were raising this three and a half billion...” (01:12–01:27)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That was ballsy. That was brave. But when you’re 34, you’ve got a lot less to lose.”
  — Amanda Staveley (00:46)
• “I’m very numerate... I used to do all my own models and I have my Bloomberg terminal, so, you know, always a good idea.”
  — Amanda Staveley (01:39)
• “I mean, I didn’t sleep for four or five days. I’m literally on phone calls, raising money, writing my notes, my business plan.”
  — Amanda Staveley (02:01)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01 — Introduction of Amanda Staveley and episode focus
• 00:43–00:55 — Amanda defines the "ballsy" moment of seizing the Barclays deal opportunity
• 01:04–01:27 — Amanda breaks down the challenge of raising funds in record time, key investors involved
• 01:37–01:53 — Her lone-wolf approach and hands-on due diligence
• 01:58–02:18 — Competing with investment banks, market knowledge, and the toll of sleepless, non-stop work

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Conclusion

This preview primes listeners for an episode rich in lessons on resilience, grit, and the reality of high-stakes dealmaking. Amanda Staveley’s reflections reveal both the unique pressures of solo leadership and what it takes to override fear and skepticism—even from potential partners—in moments of crisis.

Full episode drops Monday, August [exact date unspecified].

Transcript

[A]

Hey, everyone. Next week on Leaders, with me, Francine Lacroix, we have Amanda Stavely. She's founder and chief executive of investment and advisory firm PCP Capital Partners and former co owner of Newcastle United Football Club. She joined me in the studio to talk about building a career, earning the trust of golf investors, spotting massive opportunities and taking them on without a team. Also, where she wants to invest next. Here's a bit of our conversation where Staveley talks about the deal that really cemented her reputation as one of Britain's best known dealmakers. So Barclays, you say there's this big opportunity you see, you know, the markets are going haywire. Funding.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And you think, I can step in.

[B]

Yes. Which was really. That was ballsy. Yeah, that was ballsy. That was brave. But when you're 34, you've got a lot less to lose. I was very convinced about my business plan. I absolutely knew that Barclays would go and look for an external bailout.

[A]

I knew they didn't because someone told you or just knew.

[B]

We noticed that Qatar were already pretty much at their limit to what they could invest in the bank without a full takeover. So we thought we might be the only game in town. But we hadn't raised the money. So we'd spoken to His Highness, obviously, Sheikh Mansell, and they were brilliant and IPIC were really backing, but we were also Speaking to the Q8, Saudi China CIC and we were raising this three and a half billion in, in about three weeks, again with a small team. It was me.

[A]

That's why I fight. This is why it's quite extraordinary.

[B]

No, well, I'm very numerate, so I still in. When I went to do my Barclays due diligence, I'd take my triforms and I used to do all my own models and I have my Bloomberg terminal, so, you know, always a good idea. And that was all I had at this point.

[A]

Are you competing with big investment banks? So is there a UBS trying to find a deal?

[B]

I presume.

[A]

Do you think about it?

[B]

Yes. But I just focused. I also knew the market very, very well. I knew that I could raise the money, but I couldn't convince anyone else on that. I mean, I didn't sleep for four or five days. I'm literally on phone calls, raising money, writing my notes, my business plan.

[A]

That was a portion of my upcoming conversation with Amanda Stavely. Be sure to subscribe to the feed so you don't miss when the episode drops on Monday, August, and do leave us a review and also tell your friends.