Leading global commodities broker Marex Spectron has appointed Carla Stent, formerly Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Group, to its Board as a Non- Executive Director.

Subject to approval by UK regulator The Financial Conduct Authority, Ms Stent will take up her new role in November.

Ms Stent has occupied senior positions in high profile companies across a range of sectors. She was Operations Director at travel group Thomas Cook AG before joining Barclays Bank plc and serving as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at its Global Retail and Commercial Banking division.

In 2010, Ms Stent joined Virgin Group as Partner & Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for the Group’s Finance, Human Resources and IT units.

Jeremy Isaacs, Chair of Marex Spectron, said: “We are honoured that Carla has agreed to join us. Her vast experience of managing the operations of global companies will be invaluable to us as we continue to grow rapidly across Europe, Asia and North America.

“Marex Spectron serves market participants across a vast range of industries with extremely diverse requirements. To remain the firm of choice for anyone who need access to the global commodities markets, we need the breadth of experience that extraordinary executives like Carla can bring.”

Since leaving Virgin Group in 2013, Ms Stent has served as a director of MSC Consulting, providing assistance and guidance to a wide range of clients, including the UK’s Department for Education and Millennium and Copthorne Hotel Group.

In addition to her commercial roles, Ms Stent serves as Deputy Chair, Non- Executive Director and Trustee of The Young Women’s Trust (formerly the YWCA), and as a Trustee of the charity Christian Aid.