Welcome to another episode of The Corruption Files!
Thomas Fox and Michael DeBernardis discuss questionable hiring practices from JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon in employing relatives of high-profile clients to gain favor. They also discuss how companies can find a middle ground in hiring families, why Hiring can be a high-risk area, preventative questions to avoid a violation, and the significance of internal control and documentation.
▶️ Hiring in the Financial Space with Thomas Fox and Michael DeBernardis
Key points discussed in the episode:
✔️ Thomas Fox gives a brief background on the BNY Mellon case.
✔️ Michael DeBernardis mentions how Hiring based on connections has existed for a long time and doesn’t directly violate any laws. It’s all up to a company’s intent. For BNY Mellon, it was to maintain close connections with major clients. He recommends compliance professionals look into their company’s hiring process.
✔️ Hiring unqualified people means you’re hiring them for other reasons. JP Morgan took in ineligible candidates for leverage with high-profile clients and free advertising in their respective home countries. Documentation stopped JP Morgan in its tracks.
✔️ JP Morgan structured hiring program managed to override compliance controls, revealing regulation flaws. Being discovered next to BNY Mellon’s case, it was not the last instance of son-and-daughter corruption.
✔️ Thomas Fox retells the Credit Suisse case. Retracing the company’s spreadsheets revealed their inner workings.
✔️ The risk of hiring relatives can be minimized when there is a middle ground. Thomas Fox shares questions to ask to prevent violations. He also adds strengthening internal control can put a company on the good side of regulators.
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