Just weeks after changing its name, the £35 billion tobacco blue-chip Imperial Brands has changed its broking line-up, with Barclays stepping in less than a year after hiring broking veteran Phil Shelley to boost its ties with UK clients.

Imperial Brands, one of the world's largest tobacco groups whose market cap is more than £35 billion, said in a statement on February 23 that Barclays has been appointed as joint broker to work alongside existing broker Credit Suisse with immediate effect.