After a tenure exceeding 26 years, 25th December 2023 marked my last day in Credit Suisse. It has been an amazing journey of ups and downs, highs and lows; but mostly ups and highs. I have been reading many similar messages from my ex-colleagues as they have bid farewell to an institution they loved. For many of us — who worked incredibly hard for a long time for a firm that was admired and was a leader in its chosen businesses — the sudden collapse of Credit Suisse has been a really difficult event to process. More so in Asia-Pacific where CS had a particularly successful and dominant franchise. When you take exceptionally smart people with an ethic of hard work and mix it with collegiality, and a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, you often get magic. For most of these 26 years, it was indeed magic. It is therefore with a bundle of mixed feelings that I leave CS - pride and a sense of achievement at setting up an outstanding risk management function in Asia- Pacific combined with disappointment and angst at how it all ended. Bank failures are quite rare (although more common than you would imagine!). It is not hard to feel that it was all quite unfair that it ended the way it did. But ultimately, markets maybe cruel but they are not unfair! So it’s important for all of us to shrug off the pain and look forward to new opportunities and challenges. If we were indeed as good as we thought we were, we will surely bounce back strongly! Singapore National Day 1997 to Christmas Day 2023. Interesting bookends to an eventful career with Credit Suisse!
Sudipto, CS was a better place because of you. Best of luck with your next chapter.
Well said Sudipto! Best of luck for your future endeavours!
Sudipto you’ve very well summarised our views on Credit Suisse. Your exceptional leadership has been an inspiration. Working closely with you on numerous challenge and collaboratively crafting solutions on almost daily basis has been nothing short of magical. Wishing you continued success and all the best in your future endeavour!
Sudipto Ghatak, very well said. It was a pleasure working under you as part of CRM APAC organization. All the best!
Sudipto Ghatak - You are an amazing colleague, friend and professional! Can't wait to see what you decide to do next - 70 is the new 60 - so you have time for another career! I grew up watching a show called the Odd Couple where two polar opposites tried to get along - it was comedy - that's how if felt when CS put $300m into First Boston in 1988 - then came names like Bob O'Brien, Allen Wheat, John Mack, Frank Quattrone will go down in infamy as they clashed with conservative Suisse bankers. I remember all the name cards, CS First Boston, Credit Suisse First Boston, CS Financial Products, etc. What a ride - what's next? Robin Rheaume 🌱Teall Edds Robert Scanlon Nell Cady-Kruse, CFA, CIPM JeongHee Kim
Yes we all will bounce back strongly
Best wishes for the next act, Mr Ghatak. Am sure you will make even better use of your time. Stay safe and healthy. Look forward to catching up sometime soon. Good luck and God bless!
You’ve succinctly captured the shared emotion of many Sudipto Ghatak . Best wishes for the next chapter of your illustrious career.
Very nicely put, Sudipto. It always was a great pleasure and often magic too, working together with you for so many years. Wishing you all the best of fun and success for your further endeavours.