Caroline Saunders, the industry veteran perhaps best known for her time running research house ASSIRT, started a new challenge in the industry yesterday.

Saunders is working for Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank, in a role charged with expanding its retail presence in Australia. She is reporting to Allan McCristal.

Saunders was previously a director of Antares Capital Partners, responsible for the strategic direction of the NAB-owned alternatives funds manager.

Prior to that she was head of manager research and alliances at Challenger, and before that head of ASSIRT in the days prior to its sale to Standard & Poors.

Saunders and Barclays Capital were unavailable for comment at presstime.