Iconic Figures in Investment Banking

There is not a person who is interested in money and has never heard of few memorable names. These people have built a history upon money, power, smart moves and innovative approaches for the time they have been on the field. Who are the big players and who have managed to stay and keep on building the investment banking industry nowadays?

1. The Rothschild Dynasty

The Rothschild dynasty starts back in 1811, when Nathan Mayer Rothschild, along with his four brothers, starts the expansion of the banking business across Europe. Although everything starts with their father – Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a German court Jew, his sons have managed to internationally expand the banking business, establishing working offices at multiple locations, including Paris, London, Vienna and Frankfurt. A ton of government bonds and bullion have made the initial fortune of one of the richest families in the history of the modern world.

2. JP Morgan

John Pierpont Morgan, also known as JP Morgan, was one of the most influential financiers in the history of modern banking. His dynasty starts back in the 19 th century, when he first started his business. For the time being, he was dominating two industries – finance and industrial consolidation. His professional development started at one of the London branches of Peabody, Morgan & Co., (later J.P. Morgan & Co.), where his mentor was the influential Anthony Joseph Drexel, Sr. who later left his corporation to the young Morgan. The young financier faced a lot of challenges, where merging with the steel titans Carnegie Steel Company and subsiding the company, that owned the RMS Titanic – White Star Lane. Later, when his son J.P. Morgan, Jr. took over his business, the company divided into three separate entities – Morgan Stanley, Morgan Guaranty Trust and J. P. Morgan & Co.

3. Stuart Gulliver

When we talk about financial tycoon, one of the names that instantly pops up is the name of Stuart Gulliver. The British-born banking executive is currently the Group Chief Executive of the British banking company HSBC. He put the foundations of his banking career in the early 1980s, after an executive of HSBC serving in India encouraged him to join the HSBC’s international officer program. Fast-forward to September 7 2010, when Stephen Green announced he is stepping down of the position of Group Chairman of HSBC. Then, after a series of events, Stuart Gulliver was announced to be the effective Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings. In 2011, Gulliver was part of the 50 Most Influential people of Bloomberg Market, and in 2014 received a fair amount of pay and bonuses, worth a total of £7.6 million.

4. Jamie Dimon

Another iconic figure in the modern banking world is Jamie Dimon. He currently resides as a Chairman, President & CEO of JPMorgan Chase. Dimon’s brilliant career got him places in Time magazine’s lists of world’s most influential people for 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011. Before hopping on board of JPMorgan Chase, Dimon was a chief financial offiers at American Express. In March 2000, he changed positions to become a CEO of Bank One and later, when Bank One became an official purchase of JP Morgan Chase – Chief Operating Officer and President of the combined organization.