The departure of UniCredit CEO Alessandro Profumo was not entirely unexpected, following rumours of his discomfort, but his sudden exit has still left many questions hanging over the future strategy of Italy's largest bank. Writer David Lane
Latest articles from Management & Strategy


Dispute casts shadow over BTA Bank's restructuring
July 28, 2010The debt restructuring deal for Kazakhstan's BTA Bank was signed in May 2010, but a bitter dispute between the current and former owners of the bank continues to cast a shadow over its future. Writer Philip Alexander

Top 500 Banking Brands
February 1, 2010In such volatile times for the financial sector, strong branding is more important than ever. The Banker's Top 500 Banking Brands listing ranks the leading brands. Brian Caplen reports.

Rethinking bankers' pay
October 5, 2009The public clamour to cap bankers' bonuses is being acted upon with varying degrees of urgency and strictness by governments and regulators around the world. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Advancing with caution
October 5, 2009A recent survey by IFAC/The Banker revealed that although lending to small and medium-sized enterprises slowed down in the first half of 2009 as banks tightened security measures, a cautious increase in activity can be expected over the next few years. Silvia Pavoni reports.
The power of innovation
October 5, 2009Innovative small businesses often hold the key to job creation during financial turmoil and the accountancy profession can play a strategic role in helping such enterprises to obtain the financing they need to grow, writes IFAC president Robert Bunting.
Logical progression
October 5, 2009Recognising the key role that the accountancy profession plays in the development of SMEs, IFAC has extended its services to help facilitate this relationship, writes Sylvie Voghel, chair of IFAC's Small and Medium Practices Committee.
Risk management: Creating value
July 7, 2009Risk management, the lifeblood of financial services, is undergoing an identity crisis as many experts call into question the validity of traditional risk management methods. In this Masterclass, Keith Saxton, global director for financial markets at IBM, and Francis Lacan, global risk and compliance solution manager for the financial services sector at IBM, discuss how technology can help improve the measuring and monitoring of systemic risk and why internal risk management functions should be regarded as a profit centre. Writer Michelle Price
The end of a beautiful relationship?
June 4, 2009In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe
CSR: Plenty of scope for improvement?
April 7, 2009As corporate social responsibility increases in prominence within business models, new strategies for implementation are being tried and tested across the banking industry. In Brazil, corporate governance has progressed significantly in recent years, yet it still has a long way to go, as The Banker's round table revealed. The round table is sponsored by Bradesco but independently edited by The Banker.