With a background as an investment manager, Stephen Barber is Group Managing Director of Pictet & Cie and Group Head of Communications, responsible for all Pictet’s external publications, press and public affairs, events, advertising, branding, digital and visual output. He maintains a coordination responsibility for Pictet’s Japanese business interests. Pictet is Switzerland’s largest private bank.

He runs the leading global photography prize, the Prix Pictet, whose subject is sustainability, which he established in 2008.

Stephen began his investment career in 1977 with Samuel Montagu & Co., Ltd, the now extinct British merchant bank. Later managing money in Japanese and Asian markets, he spent the years 1987-92 in Japan as chief executive of Invesco’s regional operations. After a year as chief executive of Invesco’s mutual fund business he joined Pictet in May 1993.

He graduated from St. John’s College, Oxford with a double honours degree (MA) in Mathematics & Philosophy. He speaks and reads Japanese. He is married to Kimiko, a food writer, with whom he has three sons.