Citigroup's joint chiefs for Europe, Middle East and Africa Bill Mills and Lima-born Alberto Verme hosted a well-attended media party midweek at its offices in St James's.

The respected head of credit research Matt King held forth while veteran rainmaker Robert Swannell , who is leaving Citi next year after 32 years in banking, pondered the issue of bankers' bonuses. The only thing that a banker cares about, he said, was that no one gets paid more than him.