Has Diversity and equality gone too far?

Yesterday I was talking to a manager in a large financial institution that has fully embraced all the guidelines and rules. His team has gays, lesbians, an appropriate quota of females and ethnic minorities and has decided that the next hire must be a white male. Whatever happened to employing the most suitable person for …

Who is watching the watchers?

Who is watching the watchers? Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about another corruption scandal at some large multinational corporation, a quasi-government body, a charity or a ruling sporting body. How surprised were we all to hear that FIFA has been embroiled in nefarious practices and that bribery was pandemic? Next on …

Whistleblowers need protection

Much in the news today about whistleblowers in the NHS who find themselves bullied and isolated for having the temerity to speak out and criticise. It is being suggested that every trust should appoint a guardian to support whistleblowers and they would report to a national “tsar”. This is a futile gesture which will only …

Private equity – benefit or blight?

The demise of Citylink with the announcement on Christmas Eve really should raise questions about the role and conduct of the private equity industry. It is inconceivable that those running the company did not know it was unviable much earlier and must have known that even with the industry benefitting from its most lucrative time …