
Audio By Carbonatix
One of the world's highest paid bankers, Bob Diamond, is to become chief executive of Barclays.The American, who has made about £100m as head of the bank's investment arm Barclays Capital, will replace the current chief executive John Varley next year.Mr Varley was credited with steering Barclays through the financial crisis.Meanwhile, HSBC chairman Stephen Green is also moving on to become a government trade minister.Mr Green will take up the position of minister for trade and industry from January, ending his 28-year career at HSBC, having spent three years as chief executive and four years as chairman.The move was in response to a request from the prime minister, HSBC said.BBC business editor Robert Peston said Mr Green's appointment by the coalition government "will doubtless be heralded as a coup by the prime minister" even though the record of business people in government has been "patchy".Meanwhile Bob Diamond's appointment as Barclays' new boss will reinforce a view that Barclays sees its future as a global investment bank, he said.Pay riseMarcus Agius, Barclays chairman, called Mr Diamond "superbly qualified", with "a proven track record as a business leader"."I am honoured by the board's confidence in me and greatly motivated by the challenge of leading Barclays during the critical period ahead," Mr Diamond said."As a leading global universal bank, Barclays has the right model, the right strategy and above all the right people to deliver for all our stakeholders."His promotion means that Mr Diamond can expect to earn up to £11.5m a year - although some of this will come as part of long-term incentives and will not be paid immediately.His base salary will be £1.35m, Barclays said, with the rest awarded in bonuses."The compensation arrangements have been benchmarked against a peer group of global universal banks, industrial companies and financial services institutions," the bank said.But Robert Peston warned that the rewards may be controversial."At a time when the economy remains weak, this package is likely to spark widespread criticism," he said, though he added that the choice of Mr Diamond was no surprise."Even Mr Diamond's most jealous rivals would concede that he has done in impressive job in building up Barclays Capital; and that it's the growth at Barcap which has turned Barclays into a leading global financial institution."Investors appeared unimpressed by the news, however, with Barclays shares falling more than 3% in morning trading on Tuesday.
HSBC shake-upBarclays reported profits of £3.95bn for the first half of 2010, with the vast majority coming from Barclays Capital.BarCap will now be run by Barclays executives Jerry del Missier and Rich Ricci, who will become its co-chief executives.While formally announcing Stephen Green's departure, HSBC did not name his replacement as chairman.Mr Green follows two other former business leaders, Mervyn Davies and Sir Digby Jones, into the business department.The relationship between Mr Green and Business Secretary Vince Cable will be closely watched, however, as they appear to disagree on proposals to break up big banks.Mr Cable chairs the banking commission currently looking at how to divide banks into their retail and investment banking operations.Mr Green, as head of one of the world's biggest banks, has expressed concern over such moves.Credit: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
AfCFTA key to building globally competitive African businesses – Zambia envoy urges Ghanaian CEOs
2 minutes -
Albert Kobina Mensah, soil pollution and remediation: Risk assessment, phytoremediation, revegetation
7 minutes -
GIFEC supports national rollout of One Million Coders Programme with laptop presentation
15 minutes -
Old Tafo MP rolls out street lights project to boost security and night-time economy
23 minutes -
Telecel Ghana CEO urges urgent education reform and stronger industry-academia partnership at UEW Public Lecture
32 minutes -
Nigerian army general and several soldiers killed in assault on military base in northeast
33 minutes -
Dagbamete chief urges completion of road project, expansion of vocational training
41 minutes -
Urgently cancel Truedare AI Customs deal over cost concerns – Joseph Cudjoe to Mahama
47 minutes -
Poor safety habits to blame for recurring boat fatalities — GMA boss, Kamal-Deen Ali
53 minutes -
Owabi 75% blocked, Barekese loses 40% capacity as siltation, plastics threaten water supply crisis
1 hour -
Ashanti RCC seeks to clear unauthorised garages under new car mall initiative
1 hour -
DPS International steals spotlight at Ghana Interschool Festival Part 2
1 hour -
Republic Bank Ghana PLC leverages Kwahu Business Forum deliberations
1 hour -
Ghana and Artemis II: Hospitality, Love, and Conquest
1 hour -
AMA enforces planning rules, demolishes wall built on public right of way
1 hour