Maurice Thompson, the former head of Citigroup’s UK operations whose departure was announced last month, has now formally left the bank, according to filings on the FSA register. He’s off to pursue ‘other interests outside of banking’. Thompson attracted attention for abseiling 17 storeys down the Royal London Hospital for charity in 2013, but it’s worth reminding ourselves of a time when his interests also involved donning a frilled cravat and tights and performing ceremonial duties around the county of Leicestershire.
In 2009, Thompson was appointed High Sheriff of Leicestershire, a role occupied by a reputable member of the community for one year only, which used be the main law enforcement method in the county but now largely involves shaking the hands of local residents and donning a jaunty old-fashioned outfit. Here’s Thompson in all his glory:
Here’s a close up:
In fairness to Thompson, who works in an industry many believe to be staffed by money-grabbing psychopaths, he’s done a lot of the community of Leicestershire. He moved there in 1995, occupying a country abode near the village of Lubenham, and set up the charity Leicestershire First in 2008 with his wife Vivien. The aim is to “promote leadership, excellence and citizenship” in the county, by awarding £3,000 to unheralded people involved in arts, volunteering and community building who then donate it to a charity of their choice.
Thompson’s country locale might sound out of kilter with life in the City, but it doesn’t involve the sort of brutal commute that caused Hector Sants to resign his post at Barclays. Lubenham is a few minutes away from Market Harborough, from which there’s a direct train to London St Pancras that takes just over an hour.
Thompson’s bio paints him as something of an action man. Not only is he involved with the local fox hunting group, he took a sabbatical while at Citi in which he “rode horses in Pakistan, hiked in the Alps and did community work in the UK”.
Outside of investment banking he also enjoys “skiing and ski-touring, riding, rugby (Leicester Tigers), cricket, climbing, photography, international travel and Germany”. Germany?
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