Odd one out

[DonkeyApple]

I don't know if this is accurate, it was one of those emails you receive.

Interesting if it is:

WHO IS THE ODD MAN OUT - and more importantly - WHY?


George Osborne: CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer

Lord Stevenson: FORMER chairman, HBOS

Sir Fred Goodwin: FORMER chief executive, RBS

Andy Hornby: FORMER chief executive, HBOS

Sir Tom McKillop: FORMER chairman, RBS

John McFall MP: FORMER chairman of Treasury Select Committee

Alastair Darling: FORMER Chancellor of the Exchequer

Gordon Brown: FORMER Prime Minister and former Chancellor of the Exchequer

Sir Terry Wogan: FORMER presenter of Radio 2's Breakfast Show













If you're thinking Sir Terry Wogan, then you're right.



However, the reason may surprise you...

Terry Wogan is the only one out of this motley crew who actually holds ANY formal banking qualification.

[cal216610]

In before a title.

[CBR JGWRR]

cal216610 said:

In before a title.

+1

[Getragdogleg]

CBR JGWRR said:

cal216610 said:

In before a title.

+1

And me, took a second to work out how to get in though.

[DonkeyApple]

Getragdogleg said:

And me, took a second to work out how to get in though.

Smarter than me. I couldn't get back in to add it.

[WhoseGeneration]

Some truth in those old sayings, "It's not what you know but who you know".

[Pesty]

What formal banking quals does he hold?

What sort of banking quals are there?

[LJTS]

Pesty said:

What formal banking quals does he hold?

What sort of banking quals are there?

Banking using either hand

[12gauge]

Pesty said:

What sort of banking quals are there?

A custodial sentence for fraud?

Bush was Ivy league educated as well. Personally i'd take a bit of common sense over all the BA/Bscs/MA/phds/MBAs etc you could shake a stick it. They mean nothing. NOTHING.

Some of the most intelligent people I know have never set foot in a university. Some of the biggest idiots I know are still students into their 30s...

[Pesty]

I agree with that. I've just never heard of specific banking qualifications hence the question.

[AJS-]

12gauge said:

A custodial sentence for fraud?

Bush was Ivy league educated as well. Personally i'd take a bit of common sense over all the BA/Bscs/MA/phds/MBAs etc you could shake a stick it. They mean nothing. NOTHING.

Some of the most intelligent people I know have never set foot in a university. Some of the biggest idiots I know are still students into their 30s...

Agree with this.


Wogan probably passed some internal course for bank tellers in about 1952. Hardly qualifies him to run a major bank, any more than the lack of it disqualifies any of the others.

[Murph7355]

12gauge said:

...

Some of the most intelligent people I know have never set foot in a university. Some of the biggest idiots I know are still students into their 30s...

Indeed. But remember the key bit "some of". Some of the dumbest aholes I know never went to uni and I know some very bright people who did go. As I'm sure you do too.

Qualifications mean nothing without context and like any indicator should never be used in isolation. But given a hypothetical situation of being presented with two individuals and all you knew about them was their qualification history and nothing else, if you were betting your own money you'd surely pick the more "qualified" one?

Fortunately I've never been in that position nor would I ever get myself into it

[Eric Mc]

Back in 1950s Ireland, banking and the civil service were looked on as plum jobs for intelligent young men. Competition to get into either was fierce with very tough entrance exams and, once in, a whole series of internal examinations which you had to take to obtain promotion within the system.

Quiet a few smart young Irish men (and some women too) started off on the road to the civil service or the banks before realising that the world they were entering wouild not really suit them and be too stultifying. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, it was these types of people who usually ended up emigrating to the UK and finding more rewarding careers over here.

[Caulkhead]

Crikey, you'll be telling next that the Defence Minister doesn't own a gun and the Home Secretary has never been to prison. . . . . . .

[fido]

Pesty said:

I've just never heard of specific banking qualifications hence the question.

Indeed. This was from an post-RBS collapse article in Private Eye. At a guess, he's done a "Chartered Banker" Course or Qualification from Institute of Bankers in Ireland (or whatever it's called) .. which while being useful (and will be similar to the courses you have to go on if you work in any bank per se) isn't really going to cut it at board level!

[P-Jay]

It's an fun game to play, but as there aren't many specific banking quals (aside from some basic vocational ones you can do).

Education gets you your first job, it doesn't set-out your whole career in most cases, all the the people listed had pretty glittering careers up to the point they mad the bad call they're now infamous for (that's a matter of opinion in some cases) aside from Sir Terry of course.

For example:

Fred Goodwin (boo hiss) holds a Law Degree and is a Chartered Accountant, which isn't a bad way to start a Banking Career.

Tom McKillop holds a PHD in Chemistry which isn't a bad way to start a career at ICI, become technical director, which gives you a great background to move industries and become the head of a Bank.