A former colleague of Richard Briance, the recently installed chief executive of WestLB's merchant banking arm, says: "West Merchant Bank were unbelievably lucky to get him. If I was him I'd have held out for a bigger job."
For Briance, heading the international investment activities of Germany's third-largest bank is a big job but he is not one to blow his own trumpet - "It's so deeply not my style to put myself forward," he pleads, palpably uncomfortable at the idea - safe perhaps in the knowledge that others will do it for him.
"He has huge energy and a very good overall vision," the former colleague continues. "He's a very good team builder, commands respect from clients, hires well, and is very good at delegating - and lots of people get on with him."
Lots, maybe, but not everyone. Of his departure in February from UBS, where he was global head of...
