While much of Wall Street has acknowledged more needs to be done to diversify its ranks, one financial firm has already made excuses.
Wells Fargo chief executive Charles Scharf said during a Zoom meeting over the summer that the bank struggled to reach diversity goals because of a lack of qualified minority applicants, according to a recent Reuters report.
“While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from,” Scharf reportedly said in a subsequent memo, according to Reuters.
While some attendees of the meeting were offended by the comments, according to the story, at least one participant described it as “incredibly constructive.”
FILE PHOTO: A Barclays bank building is seen at Canary Wharf in London Reuters
Trading distressed credit is difficult during the best of times. Throw in a global pandemic, where even the most sound business models are at risk, and things can go wrong quickly.