Societe Generale International

Societe Generale International is the United Kingdom-facing arm of Societe Generale Group, the French universal bank. According to its official UK website, Societe Generale was established in the UK in 1871, making London one of the group's longest-standing international presences. The UK business operates under the Societe Generale brand and is represented in the market as "Societe Generale in the UK", with the London Branch (SG London Branch) acting as a key regulated entity and hub. The UK franchise spans a broad set of wholesale and specialised financial services. Its Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) business offers advisory and engineering expertise to corporates, financial institutions and the public sector, covering mergers and acquisitions, debt, equity and capital structure advisory, debt and equity capital raising, optimised financing, and risk management with particular strength in foreign exchange and rates derivatives. The bank describes itself as an intermediary between companies and states that need financing and investors seeking opportunities, supporting sectors such as technology, infrastructure, communications and energy, and providing investment solutions for pension funds and insurance companies. Beyond CIB, the UK group's expertise includes transaction banking, prime brokerage and clearing services, and vehicle finance. Its mobility and fleet management activities are carried out under the Ayvens brand, which was created from ALD Automotive's acquisition of LeasePlan. Transaction banking provides integrated services to corporates and financial institutions, while global markets and global banking activities are led from London for UK and international clients. Leadership of the UK business is headed by Thierry d'Argent, who was appointed CEO of SG London Branch and Group Chief Country Officer for the UK and Ireland in May 2023. He is supported by a UK management team covering finance, risk, compliance, legal, human resources, communications, global markets, global banking and advisory, and global transaction and payment services. The UK entity is part of Societe Generale Group, a listed European banking group, and is not separately listed. Societe Generale in the UK has also warned publicly about fraudulent domain names and impersonation attempts using its name, stating that it has reported identity theft to the relevant UK authorities and advising clients to verify communications through the FCA Consumer Helpline. The UK business continues to finance large-scale projects, including renewable energy and agrivoltaic financings in Europe.

Societe Generale's presence in the United Kingdom dates to 1871, when the French bank established operations in the country. Over the following century and a half, London became one of the group's most important international centres, serving as a base for wholesale banking, capital markets and specialised finance activities. The modern UK franchise is organised around several business lines. Corporate & Investment Banking provides advisory and financing services to corporates, financial institutions and the public sector, with recognised expertise in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity capital raising, and risk management, particularly in foreign exchange and rates derivatives. The bank describes its role as an intermediary between companies and states that need financing and investors looking for opportunities, supporting growth sectors such as technology, infrastructure, communications and energy, and providing investment solutions for pension funds and insurance companies. Alongside CIB, the UK group's expertise includes transaction banking, prime brokerage and clearing services, and vehicle finance. Its mobility and fleet management business is carried out under the Ayvens brand, which was born from the acquisition of LeasePlan (founded in Amsterdam in 1963) by ALD Automotive (founded in Paris). Transaction banking offers an integrated range of services to corporates and financial institutions. Leadership of the UK business has evolved over time. Thierry d'Argent was appointed CEO of SG London Branch and Group Chief Country Officer for the UK and Ireland in May 2023. He began his career in 1988 at Oliver Wyman, served as deputy Cabinet Director in the Brussels Federal Government between 1991 and 1992, and then joined Barings and later JP Morgan in 1998. In 2001 he became Head of Mergers & Acquisition for JP Morgan in France. He joined Societe Generale's Mergers & Acquisitions team in 2009 and was appointed Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions in 2010, later becoming Global Head of Corporate Finance. His appointment to lead the UK business placed an experienced corporate finance banker at the head of the group's UK operations. The UK entity operates as part of Societe Generale Group, a listed European banking group, and is not separately listed. It maintains a UK management team covering finance, risk, compliance, legal, human resources, communications, global markets, global banking and advisory, and global transaction and payment services. In recent years, Societe Generale in the UK has publicly warned about fraudulent domain names and impersonation attempts using its name. The bank stated that it has been the subject of identity theft and reported the matter to the relevant UK authorities, advising clients to verify communications through the FCA Consumer Helpline. The UK business also continues to finance large-scale projects, including renewable energy and agrivoltaic financings in Europe, such as the Vizzini agrivoltaic project in Sicily, Italy.

• 2026

  European Energy secured EUR 234.1 million in project financing for the 225 MW Vizzini agrivoltaic project in Sicily, Italy.

• 2023

  Thierry d'Argent appointed CEO, SG London Branch and Group Chief Country Officer, UK and Ireland, in May 2023.

• 2010

  Thierry d'Argent appointed Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions.

• 2009

  Thierry d'Argent joins Societe Generale's Mergers & Acquisitions team.

• 1963

  LeasePlan founded in Amsterdam; it later becomes part of Ayvens after acquisition by ALD Automotive.

• 1871

  Societe Generale established in the UK.

A universal banking group's UK hub, connecting corporates, financial institutions, governments and investors with capital markets and specialised financing.

• Corporate & Investment Banking

  Tailor-made solutions for corporates, financial institutions and the public sector, covering M&A, debt, equity and capital structure advisory, capital raising, financing and risk management.

• Transaction Banking

  Integrated range of services for corporates and financial institutions.

• Prime Brokerage and Clearing Services

  Prime brokerage and clearing services offered as part of the UK group's expertise.

• Vehicle Finance / Mobility and Fleet Management (Ayvens)

  Mobility and fleet management under the Ayvens brand, born from ALD Automotive's acquisition of LeasePlan.

• Fraudulent domain names and identity theft

Read more

• Appointment of Thierry d'Argent as UK CEOOther

1. 1Societe Generale in the UK - Financial servicessocietegenerale.co.uk
2. 2Corporate & Investment Banking - Societe Generale United Kingdomsocietegenerale.co.uk
3. 3Our Businesses - Societe Generale United Kingdomsocietegenerale.co.uk
4. 4Our Management - Societe Generale United Kingdomsocietegenerale.co.uk
5. 5Societe Generale International - Wikidatawikidata.org