Will opportunities in the emerging economies help soften the blow of an economic slowdown in the US? Or are environmental issues the primary concern of global banks? Silvia Pavoni questions nine top bankers about what 2007 holds for them.
THE QUESTIONS:
1. One of the key themes of the 2007 World Economic Forum in Davos is driving growth. How does your bank propose to drive growth in the coming year?
2. What are the main challenges facing the global economy in 2007 and how will your bank cope with them?
3. These days a global bank’s brand is one of its key assets. Can you describe your bank’s approach to managing brand value?
4. Climate change is now firmly on the mainstream political and business agenda. Can you tell us about any initiatives that your institution is taking on this or other environmental issues?
5. Bank chairmen and CEOs are natural optimists. What reasons do you have for being optimistic in 2007?
On the occasion of the 2007 World Economic Forum in Davos, The Banker has invited a select group of leading banks’ chairmen and chief executives to ‘virtually’ come together and discuss business growth, the global economy, the environment and other key topics.Optimistic by nature, our interviewees offer not only a positive outlook on their business’s growth potential, they also openly address challenges that their banks and the global economy will face in the near future. The environment seems to be one of these challenges. Being environmentally friendly is no longer a matter of image, as cynics have previously suggested. Banks and corporations around the world seem to be pricing the consequences of their ecological footprint more attentively. With regards to our participants’ ‘business print’ around the world, Brazil, Russia, India and China will keep on attracting their undivided attention, thanks to the phenomenal economic growth and the birth of a new middle class to service in those countries. Asset and wealth management will also remain great business opportunities. If emerging markets fuel banks’ enthusiasm, the US economic slowdown and its possible effects on global demand is a cause for concern. Oil supplies and commodities prices are also still clouding senior managers’ minds.
Charles Prince, Citigroup chairman and CEO
Rijkman Groenink, ABN AMRO chairman of the managing board
Daniel Bouton, Société Générale Group chairman and CEO
K V Kamath, ICICI Bank managing director and CEO
Ken Lewis, Bank of America Chairman, CEO and President
Baudouin Prot, BNP Paribas CEO
Alessandro Profumo, Unicredit CEO
Jiang Jianqing, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Chairman
