CITY VIEWS: IS IT RIGHT FOR THE FSA TO INTERVENE ON THE SUBJECT OF BANKERS’ COMPENSATION?
SIMON DUCKLIN TMF GROUP
“With the tripartite regulatory structure there will always be a lot of finger-pointing over whose responsibility it is to regulate bankers’ pay. If you get different parties involved, things will fall between the cracks, though this issue should be on somebody’s desk.”
ALEXANDRA EKPIKEN WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
“On the one hand the FSA should stick to their remit on controlling risk because it isn’t for them to rule over bankers’ pay. But I believe compensation should be tied to risk anyway – it’s wrong for people to accept a big bonus without sharing responsibility for risk.”
KAMAL MISTRY SHG
“The FSA’s job is to regulate and they should just stick to that – banks themselves should be allowed to determine pay. People expect their salary to be a matter of negotiation between them and their boss, without an external party getting involved as well.”
TOM ELLINGHAM COMPUTERSHARE
“The FSA needs to stick to regulating risk. All the banks realise that pay is key to attracting the right people, so it makes sense to let them offer the sums they are able to offer. The bonus culture is very important for fostering good performance in the City.”