On todays episode of the WTFinance podcast I was happy to host Chris Blackhurst - Commentator,  Strategic communications advisor and author of the recently released book "Too Big To Jail - Inside HSBC, the Mexican Drug Cartels and the Greatest Banking Scandal of the Century". 

On the podcast we talked about how HSBC's culture is different to other banks, Empire building within the Finance Industry, How the money Laundering Process took advantage of HSBC's systems and the importance of chasing the money.

Buy the book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Too-Big-Jail-Mexican-greatest-ebook/dp/B09Q39J1FZ/

0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - Influence for writing the book?
1:30 - Banking scandal fatigue?
2:45 - How is HSBC culture different to other banks?
4:30 - Industry issue of empire building?
7:20 - Wanting to be the largest bank
9:25 - Why do cartels need to launder money and how did they use HSBC?
15:20 - Warnings from within the company?
17:45 - Management too spread out or something else?
21:15 - Punishment meeting the crime?
22:40 - Mexican authorities
25:35 - Somebody has to be responsible
27:55 - Chasing the money
29:45 - Cutting off peoples money
32:45 - Challenge of making the changes
37:18 - One message to takeaway from book?

Chris is a writer, commentator and strategic communications advisor. He was named in the “Top 10 for Crisis and Reputational” advice by PR Week.

Chris also advises clients on the media and strategic communications. For four years, he was a Director of CT Partners, the international campaigning and communications consultancy.

Previously, Chris was Editor of The Independent. Before that, he was City Editor of the Evening Standard.

Chris was also Multi-Media Head of Business, for the Evening Standard, The Independent, i, and London Live TV, in charge of business coverage across these titles and their digital platforms, also writing for the papers, and presenting programmes, himself. 

A journalist since 1984, Chris' other posts include: Deputy Editor at the Independent and Independent on Sunday, and Daily Express, and Westminster Correspondent of the Independent, and Deputy Editor, Sunday Times Insight Team. He wrote regularly for Management Today, and contributed to numerous other magazines and publications, as well as making frequent appearances on TV and Radio, and making public speeches.

Chris received several awards. He was London Press Club’s Business Journalist of the Year, 2011. He graduated in Law from Cambridge University.

Twice married, Chris has five children, and he lives in South-West London. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf, watching football and rugby, and going to the cinema and theatre. 

Chris Blackhurst - 

Website - https://chrisblackhurst.media/#home
Twitter - https://twitter.com/c_blackhurst
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-blackhurst-36411080/

WTFinance - 

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