Where’s the apology, Mr. Lehmann?

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He sneaked like a defeated poodle into the Federal Council’s media conference where his bank’s funeral was announced: Axel Lehmann (64), the last head of the once proud Credit Suisse. It is not Lehmann’s job to show emotions, there was no emotional classification except for one “sad and historic” day.

“The last one will be bitten by dogs. Lehmann made many mistakes in communication, but failed to rectify past shortcomings,” says reputation expert Bernhard Bauhofer (60).

TRUE. Lehman is the latest in a long line of CS executives who have failed to run the bank profitably and without scandal. But those who, like many people in Switzerland, expected an apology were disappointed. He drew a pathetic figure. Lehmann should have apologized, » He prosecuted PR consultant Klaus Stöhlker (81) against CS President.

Lawyers have a say

Matthias Mölleney, 62, management consultant and last head of HR at Swissair, sees the situation this way: “Axel Lehmann should have apologized to customers and employees because management’s assessment of the bank’s future turned out to be wrong.” However, Mölleney points out that the legal department carries more weight than the communications department when it comes to such disclosures. “The pressure on lawyers in cases like this is huge. An apology can have consequences for the bank – hence the fear. »

Bauhofer is well aware of this problem: “Bankers are very reluctant to make excuses. They are afraid that an apology will be perceived as an admission of guilt, and they are afraid of facing such demands.” What to blame in the CS debacle will preoccupy Switzerland and the courts for a long time. Lehmann certainly did not want to push himself forward.

Beatrice Tschanz, 78, Swissair’s former Head of Communications, is troubling about another thing about the CS President’s appearance: “It’s a sign of poverty that he as the person in charge finds a super solution should his bank fail.

Confident UBS President

How different looks Colm Kelleher (65), head of banking giant UBS, whose financial center will be overshadowed in the future. Kelleher hardly looks at Lehman, he will tell Lehmann what is happening in the coming weeks and months.

“Kelleher is overflowing with confidence. His message: Where is the problem, we will solve it!” Tschanz, “The integration of CS still needs to be done, this is not walking in the park.” UBS President emphasizes that the bank is “solid as a rock”, unshakable as a rock. Nearly five trillion francs accumulated. the client can hardly hide his pride when bragging about his assets.

The Irish big winner, head of UBS, Stöhlker, PR: “Kelleher withdrew at the media conference with the Federal Council, but his victorious laugh was much more victorious in the foreign media,” says PR expert Stöhlker.

Source :Blick