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Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam quits after spying scandal Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam quits after spying scandal
(32 minutes later)
Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam has resigned amid a power struggle which followed a spying scandal at the bank.Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam has resigned amid a power struggle which followed a spying scandal at the bank.
Mr Thiam is stepping down after five years at the Swiss bank just months after it emerged two former employees had been placed under surveillance. He is stepping down after five years at the Swiss bank just months after it emerged that two former employees had been placed under surveillance.
The bank's board backed chairman Urs Rohner, for leading it "commendably during this turbulent time"
Mr Thiam said he did not know the spying was taking place,Mr Thiam said he did not know the spying was taking place,
Credit Suisse's board backed chairman Urs Rohner for leading it "commendably during this turbulent time".
The surveillance scandal initially came to light in September when a probe found the bank's former chief operating officer, Pierre-Olivier Bouée, had hired private detectives to track its former head of wealth management, Iqbal Khan.The surveillance scandal initially came to light in September when a probe found the bank's former chief operating officer, Pierre-Olivier Bouée, had hired private detectives to track its former head of wealth management, Iqbal Khan.
Credit Suisse later admitted its former human resources head Peter Goerke had also been tailed, prompting an investigation by Swiss financial watchdog FINMA.Credit Suisse later admitted its former human resources head Peter Goerke had also been tailed, prompting an investigation by Swiss financial watchdog FINMA.
The bank's board unanimously accepted Mr Thiam's resignation on Friday. Just two days previously, he had posted a smiling photo of himself on Instagram with senior colleagues at Credit Suisse. The bank's board unanimously accepted Mr Thiam's resignation on Friday.
Mr Thiam will leave on 14 February and is being replaced by Thomas Gottstein, who is head of the bank's Swiss business. This week a number of shareholders in Credit Suisse such as Harris Associates had backed Mr Thiam to stay on as chief executive and for Mr Rohner to go.
In a statement, Mr Thiam said: "I had no knowledge of the observation of two former colleagues. It undoubtedly disturbed Credit Suisse and caused anxiety and hurt. I regret that this happened and it should never have taken place." And on Wednesday, Mr Thiam posted a smiling photo of himself on Instagram with Credit Suisse's executive team.
Relations between the chief executive and chairman Urs Rohner had been increasingly strained following the spying scandal. However, the bank's board has thrown its support behind Mr Rohner.
Key shareholders had publically thrown their support behind Mr Thiam, while Mr Rohner had faced calls from Swiss investment adviser Ethos Foundation for him to quit.
But the board unanimously voted to back the chairman.
Credit Suisse's lead independent director Severin Schwan said: "After careful deliberations, the board has been unanimous in its actions, as well as in reaffirming its full support for the chairman to complete his term until April 2021."Credit Suisse's lead independent director Severin Schwan said: "After careful deliberations, the board has been unanimous in its actions, as well as in reaffirming its full support for the chairman to complete his term until April 2021."
The spying scandal, which involved Iqbal Khan, Credit Suisse's former head of Wealth Management being chased through the streets of Zurich, rocked the rather staid world of Swiss banking, overshadowing Tidjane Thiam's attempts to overhaul the bank. Mr Thiam will leave on 14 February and is being replaced by Thomas Gottstein, who is head of the bank's Swiss business.
Relations between the chief executive and chairman had been increasingly strained following the spying scandal.
In a statement, Mr Thiam said: "I had no knowledge of the observation of two former colleagues.
" It undoubtedly disturbed Credit Suisse and caused anxiety and hurt. I regret that this happened and it should never have taken place."
The spying scandal, which involved Iqbal Khan, Credit Suisse's former head of wealth management being chased through the streets of Zurich, rocked the rather staid world of Swiss banking, overshadowing Tidjane Thiam's attempts to overhaul the bank.
Mr Thiam and Mr Khan had previously been close allies, with the wealth management business a cornerstone in the chief executive's turnaround plan. He pivoted the bank away from riskier trading activities, stabilising revenue.Mr Thiam and Mr Khan had previously been close allies, with the wealth management business a cornerstone in the chief executive's turnaround plan. He pivoted the bank away from riskier trading activities, stabilising revenue.
The scandal, which emerged after Mr Khan defected to rival UBS, claimed the jobs of two senior Credit Suisse executives and resulted in a probe from the regulators - but Mr Thiam was cleared of involvement at the time.The scandal, which emerged after Mr Khan defected to rival UBS, claimed the jobs of two senior Credit Suisse executives and resulted in a probe from the regulators - but Mr Thiam was cleared of involvement at the time.
But as the accusations escalated, a showdown between Mr Thiam and the board ensued. Urs Rohner triumphed: the man responsible for appointing Mr Thiam also determined his departure. Tidjane Thiam has for many years been a high profile figure in the financial world, even resorting to Instagram to put his message out, and denies any wrongdoingBut as the accusations escalated, a showdown between Mr Thiam and the board ensued. Urs Rohner triumphed: the man responsible for appointing Mr Thiam also determined his departure. Tidjane Thiam has for many years been a high profile figure in the financial world, even resorting to Instagram to put his message out, and denies any wrongdoing
The bank's largest shareholders had publicly called for him to be retained; now the challenge for Credit Suisse is to persuade shareholders that his successor, bank veteran Thomas Gottstein, can continue to restore its fortunes.The bank's largest shareholders had publicly called for him to be retained; now the challenge for Credit Suisse is to persuade shareholders that his successor, bank veteran Thomas Gottstein, can continue to restore its fortunes.
Mr Thiam has had an illustrious and varied career. The French Ivorian studied in France and worked in management consultancy before serving as Ivory Coast's Minister of Planning and Development, until a military coup led to him being placed under house arrest.Mr Thiam has had an illustrious and varied career. The French Ivorian studied in France and worked in management consultancy before serving as Ivory Coast's Minister of Planning and Development, until a military coup led to him being placed under house arrest.
He later became boss of financial services firms Aviva Europe and Prudential before joining Credit Suisse five years ago.He later became boss of financial services firms Aviva Europe and Prudential before joining Credit Suisse five years ago.
Mr Thiam had attempted to overhaul the Swiss bank, including increased focus on Mr Khan's Wealth Management division. Mr Thiam had attempted to overhaul the Swiss bank, including increased focus on Mr Khan's wealth management division.
While he had initially praised and promoted Mr Khan, there were reports a personal animosity had developed. This intensified after Mr Khan redeveloped a property near Lake Zurich neighbouring that of his boss. While he had initially praised and promoted Mr Khan, there were reports a personal animosity had developed.
This intensified after Mr Khan redeveloped a property near Lake Zurich neighbouring that of his boss.
Media reports suggested there was an altercation between Mr Khan and Mr Thiam's girlfriend at a cocktail party held by the chief executive at his home, over trees planted on Mr Thiam's property.Media reports suggested there was an altercation between Mr Khan and Mr Thiam's girlfriend at a cocktail party held by the chief executive at his home, over trees planted on Mr Thiam's property.
Shortly after that Mr Khan announced his departure from Credit Suisse.Shortly after that Mr Khan announced his departure from Credit Suisse.
It later emerged private detectives were hired to track him due to fears he might poach clients when he started work at UBS. Mr Khan, after noticing he was being tailed, had confronted the person observing him. It later emerged private detectives were hired to track him due to fears he might poach clients when he started work at UBS.
Mr Khan, after noticing he was being tailed, had confronted the person observing him.