More governance

The FT clearly takes an interest in the way that large companies organise their governing structures. So a few days ago it was the election of a new leader at McKinsey, noticed at reference 1, yesterday it was the turn of goings-on at the top of Credit Suisse at reference 2.

From his entry in Wikipedia at reference 3, clearly an able and interesting chap. A very successful banker who also takes a hand at both the arts and mental health, all spiced up with just a whiff of scandal. But the present interest is the shifting sands of the upper reaches of Credit Suisse. I think the position is that he is chairman while someone else is the chief executive, a division of labour which is perhaps intended, in part at least, to ensure that too much power does not get into one pair of hands - in the way of, for example, the one pair of hands of the current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. This last despite there having been all kinds of obstacles in his way, put in place to stop exactly that after the well known excesses of a previous incumbent. And then there are, at Credit Suisse anyway, various small committees from which commands are issued down the line. Who gets on them? Who gets to put his chaps on them?

Getting the balance right between a leader who can lead and a leader who leads too much and has led for too long, has always been a problem with large organisations, probably for as long as there have been large organisations. Probably even the sort of organisation needed to put up the pyramids at Giza. And a never ending feast for the resident scholars of business schools and management consultancies. Probably including here the McKinsey of the previous post. Which brings to mind the well known saying: 'Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?' - a quote which first appeared here getting on for ten years ago, at reference 4. And I associate to the story that you should never look to the private accounts of accountants if you want to know how accounts should be done.

Perhaps someone has written a work comparing and contrasting the different command structures of three rather different sorts of organisations: large corporations, armed forces and governments ancient & modern - including here the different arrangements for renewing and refreshing those structures  - a work with which I could while away a few idle hours. Usual small reward for anyone who can point me at something suitable.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-curiosity.html.

Reference 2: Horta-Osório tightens his grip at Credit Suisse: New chair stamps his authority on Swiss bank, raising questions about the CEO - Stephen Morris, Owen Walker, Arash Massoudi, Joshua Franklin and the FT - 2021. September 12 2021.

Reference 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_Horta-Os%C3%B3rio_(banker).

Reference 4: http://psmv2.blogspot.com/2012/12/secrets.html.