Lloyds chief Horta-Osorio “thrilled” to be back at work
Lloyds Banking Group Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said he was “thrilled” to return to work on Monday after a two-month absence due to fatigue, but faces an even bigger challenge turning around the part-state-owned lender than when he left.
“I am thrilled to be back and I look forward to working with my colleagues again,” Horta-Osorio said during a brief photocall outside the bank’s head office on Gresham Street in the City of London.
Horta-Osorio, wearing a dark suit with a bright green tie, spoke quietly and declined further comment. He made a quick return into the building, watched by some staff from windows interested in his re-appearance.
Lloyds has said Horta-Osorio will change his intensive working style and will have fewer people reporting to him than the previous 13. He was known as a details-obsessed chief.
But the 47-year-old Portuguese only took over as CEO in March and needs to implement a far-reaching turnaround strategy he unveiled, including 15,000 job cuts