Reports

Euart Glendinning

Euart Glendinning

Euart Glendinning is a highly experienced international corporate affairs advisor who has served as the Global Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) since April 2008. Based in Abu Dhabi, Glendinning is responsible for providing strategic counsel to senior management, overseeing external relations, public affairs, media relations, marketing and branding, social responsibility, and internal communications. His career includes significant roles in major financial institutions, notably as Managing Director and Head of International Corporate Communications at Morgan Stanley, where he managed a large team and an international network of agencies, and as Global Head of Corporate Communications for BNP Paribas Capital Markets. Glendinning holds an MA Honours in Economics and International Relations from the University of St Andrews and an Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School.

As ADIA’s principal liaison for EU relations, Glendinning has operated as the in-house lobbyist for the sovereign wealth fund, focusing on regulatory and legislative matters relevant to institutional investors within the European Union. His work is characterized by a low-profile, professional approach, leveraging extensive networks and experience to advance ADIA’s interests in a complex international regulatory environment.

Euart Glendinning serves as the Global Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a sovereign wealth fund established by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to manage and invest the emirate’s surplus oil revenues. Since joining ADIA in April 2008, Glendinning has been responsible for shaping and executing the institution’s global communications strategy, overseeing external relations, public affairs, media relations, marketing and branding, social responsibility, and internal communications. His role is not merely administrative but is deeply strategic, positioning ADIA as a responsible and influential global investor, while also safeguarding and promoting the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the international stage.

Glendinning’s lobbying activities are primarily conducted in-house for ADIA, rather than on behalf of a third-party lobbying firm. However, his work is closely aligned with the broader objectives of the UAE government, given ADIA’s status as a state-owned investment vehicle. The true intention behind Glendinning’s lobbying is to ensure that the regulatory, political, and reputational environment in the European Union remains favorable to UAE sovereign wealth funds and, by extension, to the economic and geopolitical interests of the UAE. This includes advocating for open and transparent capital markets, supporting regulatory frameworks that facilitate cross-border investment, and opposing measures that could restrict the activities of sovereign investors.

While ADIA’s official mission is to sustain the long-term prosperity of Abu Dhabi through prudent investment, the hidden intention of its lobbying efforts—managed by figures like Glendinning—is to advance the UAE’s influence and soft power within Europe. This is achieved by engaging with EU policymakers on key legislative files that affect institutional investors, such as the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID2), Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR), Market Abuse Regulation (MAR), European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), and the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). By influencing these regulations, ADIA—and by extension, the UAE—seeks to maintain access to European markets, protect its investments, and ensure that its voice is heard in discussions about global financial stability and market infrastructure.

Glendinning’s lobbying also serves to counter negative perceptions of sovereign wealth funds, particularly those from the Gulf region, by promoting transparency, good governance, and responsible investment practices. This aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a reliable and constructive partner in global finance, thereby enhancing its international reputation and influence. In summary, while Glendinning’s official role is to represent ADIA’s investment interests, his lobbying activities ultimately serve the strategic interests of the UAE, both economically and politically.

Euart Glendinning’s lobbying activities for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) are characterized by high-level, strategic engagement with European Union policymakers and regulators. Since ADIA’s registration with the EU Transparency Register in January 2015, Glendinning has been identified as the person in charge of EU relations, responsible for coordinating all lobbying and public affairs activities related to the EU. His approach is selective and targeted, focusing on key legislative files and regulatory developments that could impact ADIA’s investment activities and, by extension, the interests of the UAE.

Glendinning’s primary objective is to ensure that EU regulations remain conducive to the operations of sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors. This involves monitoring and engaging on legislative proposals related to investment products, securities and capital markets, market infrastructure, taxation, the Capital Markets Union, and foreign direct investment. By doing so, he seeks to protect ADIA’s access to European markets and to influence the development of regulatory frameworks that support cross-border investment.

One of the most significant lobbying activities led by Glendinning was a high-level meeting with the European Commission on January 28, 2015, in Brussels. The meeting focused on the EU’s investment plan (Jobs, Growth, Investment, and Competitiveness) and was attended by Hilde Hardeman and Edward Bannerman, both members of the Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the role of institutional investors, such as ADIA, in supporting the EU’s economic growth agenda. Glendinning’s participation in this meeting underscores his role as a key interlocutor between ADIA and EU policymakers, and it provided an opportunity to advocate for policies that facilitate investment by sovereign wealth funds.

While only one high-level meeting is publicly documented, it is likely that Glendinning has engaged in additional, lower-level meetings and communications with EU officials, as is common practice among large institutional investors. These interactions are not always published by the European Commission, but they are essential for building relationships, sharing expertise, and influencing policy discussions behind the scenes.

Glendinning’s lobbying activities also extend to participation in international forums and industry associations, such as the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF), where ADIA has held leadership positions. Through these platforms, Glendinning helps shape global standards for sovereign wealth fund governance and promotes the UAE’s interests on the international stage.

In summary, Euart Glendinning’s lobbying activities are comprehensive and strategic, encompassing direct engagement with EU policymakers, participation in international forums, and ongoing monitoring of regulatory developments. His efforts are designed to promote the interests of ADIA and the UAE, ensuring that both remain influential players in global finance.

Note:
Due to privacy and data protection regulations, direct contact details such as email and phone number are not publicly available. Professional contact is typically made through ADIA’s official channels or via LinkedIn.

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