One of the most prominent figures in banking within the evolving field known as behavioural finance has left his firm to create his own business.

Greg Davies, head of behavioural finance at Barclays, a role that has seen him become one of the most prominent figures in this evolving field, has left the bank to create his own business in this area.

Dr Davies has been at the bank for the past 10 years. 

“Greg Davies, head of behavioural finance, has decided to leave Barclays to set up his own business in the behavioural field. Greg has played a crucial role in shaping behavioural finance at Barclays to create our market leading investment philosophy. We wish him all the best for the future," the bank said in a statement emailed to this publication when asked about the matter.

Behavioural finance relates to a study of how human behaviour towards money and investment often departs from supposedly rational choices and looks at the traits and biases humans carry from their evolutionary origins. For example, it can explain why people buy stocks at a market peak or engage in herd-like behaviour (the dotcom boom, sub-prime mortgage lending, etc). While once a niche academic area, behavioural finance is increasingly recognised and discussed in wealth management and the wider banking sector.