.Bank staff dread incumbent boss’ and rumours of downsizing
A fresh wind of change blows through the United Bank for Africa (UBA), like the proverbial north wind rattling a merchant ship. It dwindles confidences into a pale glow and instills the fear of God across every cadre of the bank’s staff as the Pacific gale taunts the soul of even the most sea-hardened sailor.
The storms of change courses through the financial institution at the emergence of Kennedy Uzoka as the new Managing Director (MD) of the bank. Soon after Kennedy was pronounced as the successor to the bank’s former MD, Phillips Oduoza, every interest group, power bloc and cabal within the bank knew that real change was in the offing. They knew that things would never be the same with the bank as its operations began to undergo a turnaround.
Kennedy’s way of doing things is markedly different from his predecessor’s but every member of staff never fails to acknowledge, his critics inclusive, that Kennedy’s way of doing things is remarkably geared to improve the fortunes of the bank and guarantee the happiness of its teeming clients.
Notwithstanding, detractors of Kennedy within the bank are still smarting from the shock of the former MD’s sudden exit. They believe Kennedy was instrumental to the sudden removal of Oduoza with whom they were well pleased.
Whatever anyone thinks, Kennedy has come to stay and his tenure will be the best in the history of the bank, according to his loyalists. Yet a palpable fear pervades the foremost bank’s banking halls and board rooms as staff across every cadre go to work with trepidation in their heart.
Besides their fear of Kennedy’s no nonsense nature, rumour that Kennedy may downsize anytime soon is one of the ugly reasons for atmosphere of fear. No one knows where or on whom the perilous axe may strike.
