Rebuilding Trust in Banks

Praise for Rebuilding Trust in Banks The recognition that leadership and governance need to be viewed together, being either side of the same coin, is an important contribution of this insightful book. Companies need leaders with the ambition to set great strategies and the charisma to inspire organizations. But successful leaders also need the guidance of good governance, if over weening ambition, unrestrained risk-tasking, and the abuse of power are to be avoided. The cases of Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and the Royal Bank of Scotland are used to show how the leaders of these once successful banks were unrestrained by their boards, which led eventually to excessive risk, corporate collapse, and their ultimate failure. Written primarily for the directors of banks, this book has important messages for the directors of every major company, particularly where the roles of chief executive and chairman of the board are combined. -Bob Tricker, Honorary Professor, The University of Hong Kong, and author, Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies and Practices In addressing how to rebuild trust in banks by exploring the failures of both leadership and governance that led to the loss of trust in the first place, John Zinkin provides a practical guide for bank boards on how to restore, and sustain, trust going forward. -Ian Buchanan, Senior Executive Adviser, Booz & Company, and former Asia Pacific chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton Extremely thorough, comprehensive, topical, relevant, and user-friendly. -Youssef Nasr, Independent Director, Board of Directors, Brookfield Asset Management John Zinkin's analysis of what it takes to make great banks is spot-on. His analysis artfully combines the latest thinking in leadership and governance. Indeed, strong governance with weak leadership will not take a bank very far, while a strong leader with weak governance may take the bank far in the wrong direction. His constant use of current cases and historical references gives life to the analysis, inspires the reader, and makes for a fun read. Many bankers can profit from the reflection and from the tools and checklists proposed to assess their own or other's institution. This should be a must-read for the senior manager of any significant financial institution around the world. -Didier Cossin, Director of the IMD Global Board Center and Professor of Finance and Governance, IMD Business School John Zinkin's exploration of leadership, governance, and regulation after the financial crisis is thoughtful, practical, and wise. This book will be an indispensable prop for directors of banks around the world. -John Plender, columnist, Financial Times