Fury as Pru chief moonlights on bank board - papers

The Prudential chief executive Tidjane Thiam was under fire from shareholders last night after taking on a second high-profile job while trying to steer the insurer through a record takeover deal.

The Times reports Mr Thiam's decision to become a non-executive director at Société Générale, the French banking giant, sparked surprise and anger among leading Pru shareholders. They branded the move unacceptable and a disgrace. Five big investors said that they were dismayed by the timing of Mr Thiam's nomination, which comes as he battles to convince the City to back a transforming $35.5bn (£23 bn) acquisition in Asia, paid for by the biggest rights issue in British history. "Not only is it an utterly extraordinary thing to do, it's incredibly arrogant," one top-ten Prudential shar...