Credit Suisse's integration is making progress. That has apparently freed up so much time for UBS's chairman that he will soon be in a position to lecture at a British university.
The chairs of Swiss companies are seen as being increasingly challenged by the tasks they have on hand. They have to answer to shareholders, stakeholders, and the public at large. Just presiding over four meetings a year, as was once the case, is no longer enough, particularly if the companies are listed.
A chairman has to be in a position to act more quickly and his tasks are becoming more time intensive and they increasingly play a stronger role in the strategic development of a company. Still, that leaves enough time, apparently, for part-time jobs, as the example of Colm Kelleher shows.
Key Role in Rescue
The UBS chairman has been challenged in the time leading up to the emergency rescue of Credit Suisse, likely in ways he had seldom been previously. But the former Wall Street banker managed the turbulent times with aplomb.
While UBS chief executive officer Sergio Ermotti focuses on the daily challenges posed by the integration of Credit Suisse and has been clearly in the media's eye recently, things have quietened down related to Kelleher. His role as chairman has been rather subdued and he appears to now have some free capacity to lend his hand to other tasks in the meantime.
UK Visiting Professor
It is clear that many people, including university students, are in a position to profit from his long leadership tenure in the banking business, his wide network of contacts, and his financial expertise. That is probably why the Loughborough Business School named him a visiting professor for banking and finance. The university, in Leicestershire, counts over 18,000 students and is widely known for its sports faculty.
«I am honored and delighted to be appointed Visiting Professor by Loughborough Business School. I look forward to sharing my insights and experience with the students and faculty. Together we can contribute to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of banking and finance,» indicated the former top banking industry leader who was appointed chairman of UBS in April 2022.
Great Deal of Insight and Inspiration
«As a renowned leader in the financial services sector, our students and colleagues will take a great deal of insight and inspiration from Colm as they go on to shape the future of banking – balancing economic, environmental, and societal needs to make the world a better place», maintained Jan Godsell, Dean of the Loughborough Business School.
Students will not just be profiting from Kelleher's time at UBS. Born in 1957, the UBS chairman is maybe best known for his tenure at US bank Morgan Stanley where he headed the institutional securities business and wealth management segments until 2019. It is not yet clear how often Kelleher will be lecturing at the university in the future.
