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How important is a highly attractive, high functioning spouse?

Jun 29 2009

Following the eulogy to the fragrant Diane Jenkins in the weekend Telegraph, it’s worth revisiting the contribution that Diane has allegedly made to the career of husband Roger Jenkins, the executive chairman of Barclays Investment Banking and Investment Management for the Middle East.

Diane, a Bosnian who met Jenkins while at City University, is rumoured to have had a role in endearing Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani to him. The Sheikh, who manages the Qatari sovereign wealth fund, bought a 15% stake in Barclays earlier this year, enabling the bank to reject an investment from the British government.

Although Diane is something of a socialite, the Jenkinses, the Sheikh and his wife apparently enjoy quiet nights in eating lamb and pasta for four at home.

Now that client relationships are resurgent, are alpha spouses mandatory for success in banking? Or can you still get by with someone who reheats ready meals and thinks Botox is a character from Asterix?

Comments (32)

An alpha male beast wouldn't be partnered with a hippo...or vice versa. A tiger needs a tigeress.

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Comments (7)

  • ZLTE017-Your hand does not count as a partner

    bc 29 Jun 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 2 times | Alert Moderator

  • Wow....What a bunch of small minded bigots inhabit these message boards. Do any of you even know what a women looks like before you start attacking Carol.
    But back to the original point...In my experience of mixing with the right people in the right circles, your partner is a reflection of the image you like to portray. An alpha male beast wouldn't be partnered with a hippo...or vice versa. A tiger needs a tigeress.

    ZLTE017 29 Jun 2009

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  • Carol - Well that backfired on you, didnt it miss clever clogs? hahaha. looks like someone else is the prat after all

    Choosy you legend 29 Jun 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • I am a high profile deal maker in a Large bank (still have my job). I personally make it  a point not to socialise and make sure even if I have to be in such boring so called personal relationship meetings, never bring up my family life or my business associates' personal lives

    my business associates know that i am there for business like i know they are for business - if we can get together to make money so be it - personal lives are too private to be touched/meddled

    Bringing in personal relationship equations in businesses mean

    1. the parties are insecure
    2. one of the two parties is about to get ripped off
    3. somone is doing a favour out of their way so their ego need to be massaged or they need to be given false sense of importance
    4. Building business on a spouse's flirting capacity is SHAMEFUL - there is another undesirable name to those kind of tactics
    5. Nobody business associate is important enought to invade my personal space

    genuine friendships during a course of business are all together different

    anon 04 Jul 2009

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  • Its extremely important. Your spouse or choice of partner reflect your status within society. If your happy being 3rd rate so be it...some of us are not!!

    ZLTE017 29 Jun 2009

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  • Carol - I am not belittling your IQ my dear, but if you look closely you will see two instances of your/you're in the post in question.

    Choosy 29 Jun 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • ZlTE017 - Sorry to break the news, but no matter how appealing your wife, you will still seem third rate if you can't spell 'you're.'

    Choosy 29 Jun 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

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