201 – Governance and accountability lose their Barings
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A governance and accountability story. Welcome to the Anecdotally Speaking podcast!
Visit our website for more captivating stories and business insights!
In this episode, our hosts Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk kick off the 2024 season of the show!
The episode features a cautionary story about Nick Leeson, an infamous investment trader for the Queen’s bank (Barings) who traded them into bankruptcy.
Expect to learn:
- The devastating story leading to the bankruptcy of England’s oldest investment bank
- The importance of governance and accountability
- The impact of high risk investment trading
- The vital difference between talent and luck
And…much more!
Links and References:
- Nick Leeson story
- Shawn Callahan on LinkedIn
- Mark Schenk on LinkedIn
Come say hi on our social Medias!
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash
For your story bank
Tags: governance, internal control, trust, accountability, trader, bankruptcy
This story starts at 04:09 and ends at 10:39
This business story is centred around the downfall of Barings Bank in the 1990s. The bank’s Singapore office, led by the young and successful Nick Leeson, initially thrived with a doubling strategy, turning profits. However, Leeson’s high-risk trades led to substantial losses hidden in an obscure account. The lack of oversight and accountability within the bank’s governance allowed the losses to accumulate, ultimately resulting in the bank’s bankruptcy in February 1995.
The takeaways from this story include: the importance of governance, trust, accountability, and the fine line between talent and luck in the financial world.
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