The new chairman of the International Capital Market Association, Cyrus Ardalan, is well suited to the role he takes on in the post-financial crisis era when liaising with governments and regulators has arguably never been more important.

Oxford University graduate Ardalan, who has worked at Barclays Capital for more than a decade since joining in November 2000, is the UK bank's vice-chairman with responsibility for its work with sovereigns and government agencies in Europe, the Middle East and north Africa. He also handles its work with supranational institutions around the world.