After a four-month absence from the market, Yann Gindre – ex UBS, BZW, Commerzbank and Chase – has finally resurfaced. But he’s not going back to banking. Gindre was always one of the more colourful bond origination professionals, but he has decided to hang up his Euromarket hat and become, of all things, a headhunter.
Gindre, variously described as “the world’s greatest living Frenchman”, “the bond market’s Inspector Clouseau” or simply as a man who likes his lunches, has joined a small operation called Truffert, set up by one of his first bosses, Philippe Truffert, who recruited Gindre for UBS.
So why did he decide to become a headhunter? “Well, I came across so many bad ones during my time in the business, and thought that with all I’d learnt I could do a much better job of it.”
Why he decided to leave banking is another matter. While recognized as one of the best originators in the business, he spent the past five years at the mercy of strategic about-turns or mergers.
His time at BZW was cut short by the death of his mentor, chief executive officer David Band, and the reorganization undertaken by Bob Diamond. His next job at Commerzbank foundered because senior management in Frankfurt couldn’t agree on strategy, and his last move was to Chase to run its high-grade European business. All the senior staff on Chase’s debt team in London lost out in the merger with JP Morgan.
Will he miss life in the thick of the markets? “Perhaps, but to be able to be my own boss and in charge of my own destiny, and have a more decent family life is a huge attraction.”
One of the benefits of the move would’ve been the location, on Lombard Street in the City, closer to Bill Bentley’s, one of his favourite hang-outs for sampling fine wines and cheese while at Commerzbank. Unfortunately his old haunt has closed down.
