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Brown Man, White 4WD

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  Brown Man, White 4WD In the mid‑eighties, Abu Dhabi had its own quiet rules, including who was “allowed” to drive a 4WD. On a routine work trip from Dubai, a borrowed Nissan Patrol gave one young fellow a chance to test that rule, and discover how small rebellions can linger in memory. Denzil Jayasinghe 3 min read · 2 hours ago T his is a slightly odd story to tell. When the Trucial States came together as the United Arab Emirates, the maps were redrawn, flags were hoisted, and in the banks we drew charts to match. Each emirate suddenly had its own importance, and head office had neat reporting lines to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. It all looked very orderly on paper — the sort of thing that reassures auditors and confuses everyone else Abu Dhabi, the setting of this story, however, had its own rules, its own police, and a quiet confidence that felt no need to explain either. In the mid‑eighties, the Dubai branch sent me up there for a few days. I met Peter Butler, the operations manag...
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The Runaway Curriculum

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  The Runaway Curriculum First I ran from school. Then I ran toward tech. This is the space between. Denzil Jayasinghe 17 hours ago 2 Press enter or click to view image in full size Press enter or click to view image in full size
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Steve McCarthy: The Man Who Painted a Bank Red

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  Steve McCarthy: The Man Who Painted a Bank Red Denzil Jayasinghe 6 min read · 3 days ago 3 M ost ex-banking folks never really knew Steven McCarthy. He was a distant figure — a name associated with volatility, an accent that barked orders at Hong Kong speed, a reputation that preceded him through every corridor. But some of us knew a different Steve. The one who smiled only after hours, over a beer at his Jumeirah villa or the Hilton bar. The one who saw possibility where others saw grey chairs and colonial-era torpor. The one who, when it mattered most, acted against the bank’s own impersonality. This is his story. Or rather, ours with him. The Arrival When Steve arrived from SCB Kowloon — Hong Kong’s retail banking powerhouse, second only to HSBC — the whispers had already started. He was here to transform retail banking. A monumental task for what was essentially a glorified post office in banker’s clothing. I met him on my second day under his indirect command. Functionally, ...
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