Standard Chartered’s chief economist leaves tomorrow after 20 years at firm

David Mann, Standard Chartered’s Singapore-based global chief economist, is leaving the bank on 19 June, according to an internal email, which was seen by eFinancialCareers.

He is taking up an undisclosed opportunity outside of the sector, says the memo from his manager, Eric Robertsen, global head of research and chief strategist. A spokesperson for Stan Chart confirmed the contents of the message.

His responsibilities will now be shared by Robertsen, Razia Khan (chief economist, Africa), Sarah Hewin (chief economist, Europe and Americas), and Kaushik Rudra (global head of credit and rates research).

Mann had been with Stan Chart since 2000 and was promoted into his most recent role in 2017, having previously been chief economist for Asia. He joined the bank in London and was a founding member of the FX strategy team in 2002, moving to Hong Kong in 2005 as a senior FX strategist.

In 2009, Mann relocated to New York as regional head of research for the Americas, responsible for covering the US economy, managing the Latin America team, and providing clients with the bank’s view on Asia in the US time zone, according to Stan Chart’s website.

His departure follows, although is not necessarily related to, the consolidation about two months ago of Standard Chartered’s strategy and economics groups into a single team called global research, according to a separate internal memo which was also seen by eFinancialCareers.

Robertsen was appointed to head up the new team, and at the time of the announcement Mann was to carry on as chief economist. “Whilst we recognise that strategy and economics fulfil different roles and have different audiences, it is critical for these two groups to be intensely aligned around our client priorities,” says the memo.

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