Simon Meadows is known for striking terror into CSFB traders at the bank's Canary Wharf headquarters in London. But this particular Friday morning he is relaxed, smiling and talkative. Perhaps it's because he is about to go scuba diving in Grenada. Or perhaps it's because he can look back on a good year, having added Russia, Lebanon, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania to his list of sovereign clients.
"I just love tickin' 'em off," he enthuses. "I don't know whether it's because I got an A for geography at school but I love doing deals for sovereigns."
For the past five years the ebullient Meadows has been joint-head of CSFB's highly successful London debt capital market team with John Walsh. The partnership thrives on their different approaches - Walsh is easy-going, Meadows a ranter. But despite the contrasts in style they have had, according to Walsh, just two brief arguments.
"I'm always looking to explore the upside," says Walsh. "Meadows is wonderfully realistic. He has an ability to see the end result from day one and can manage capital commitment. He can be miserable, intense but he is very unemotional about risk - sees it very clearly.