Gardening leave for overworked bankers is perhaps one of the more agreeable spin-offs when one bank buys another. A recent beneficiary is Carol Barazzone, the former head of global equity syndicate at BZW, who quit in April four months after the sale to CSFB.
Barazzone is not due to take up her new position at Commerzbank until September and is more than happy to be spending the summer in the company of her three children, playing tennis every day, roller-blading in Hyde Park and driving her new convertible Porsche. "I've always been a complete tomboy," she confesses, "and I've always liked bikes and cars, so finally I've treated myself to something I've always wanted."
During five years at BZW, Barazzone built up a team of 16, handling transactions for such big companies as National Power, PowerGen and Telecom Italia. The team was credited with highly professional work and excellent knowledge of the market and the number of lead deals handled grew fast under her leadership. "Hugely supportive and extremely fair" is a former colleague's description of her management style. "She gave you responsibility and allowed you to run with your own decisions.