Barclays’ Diamond snubs top job interview with Bank of America
BARCLAYS Capital president Bob Diamond snubbed an opportunity to be interviewed for the top job at Bank of America (BoA), City PM can confirm.
Diamond was approached by BoA’s board and asked if he would be interested in replacing outgoing chief executive Kenneth Lewis. But he refused because “he’s got a great opportunity where he is,” one source said.
Also shortlisted by BoA for the post were Gregory Curl, the bank’s chief risk officer, and its head of consumer and small business banking Brian Moynihan.
BoA would not comment, but said it was still reviewing internal and external candidates for the position.
The appointment of an interim chief executive, who would hold the fort while an appropriate leader is hunted out, has not been ruled out.
Barclays declined to comment on the approach from BoA.
Diamond has spent much of the past year in New York as he builds BarCap’s USpresence
Lewis, who is 62, announced his retirement in a surprise move on 1 October and plans to leave by the end of the year. Potential internal successors for his position at the bank were lined up in an August reshuffle.