London’s post-Brexit financial services industry must compete more with New York and Singapore rather than with leading EU centres, the head of British bank Barclays said on Friday.

“I think what London needs to be focused on is not Frankfurt or Paris; (it) needs to be focused on New York and Singapore,” Barclays chief executive Jes Staley told the BBC.

The UK’s powerhouse financial sector, which represents around seven per cent of the nation’s economy, should emerge stronger from Brexit, according to Staley.

“Brexit gives the UK the opportunity to define its own agenda,” he said, adding that he does not feel there was any need for deregulation to achieve this end.

“And in defining that agenda around financial services, staying competitive with other markets outside of Europe is really what the government should be focused on – and I think that is what they are focusing on.”

Staying competitive with other markets outside of Europe is really what the government should be focused on – and I think that is what they are focusing on- Barclays chief executive Jes Staley

Britain’s departure from the European Union was finalised on January 1.

The nation’s long-awaited Brexit trade deal with the EU, agreed over Christmas, did not, however, include the finance sector.

Brussels and London are aiming to seal a memorandum of understanding about financial services by March. 

London’s financial sector is referred to as the City. 

“What the UK needs and London needs, is to make sure that the City is one of the best places, whether (in terms of) regulation or law or language, or talent, that manages these flows of capital wealth,” Staley said.