‘Look Tanuja, private banking is a business targeted at the crème de la crème customers. It will compete with the top end of my branch banking business. They will end up targeting the same customers, that too with better services and more flexible products.’
‘So?’
‘We have to make sure they don’t steal our thunder.’ Tanuja didn’t understand what Vikram meant.
Under Vikram, branch banking had become a very glamorous business. The stock market was on fire for the better part of the previous year, mutual funds were selling as if they were soon going out of fashion and gullible customers were very happy investing in mutual funds and other structured products, as advised by the extremely aggressive relationship managers in Vikram’s branch network. A new private banking business set up on similar lines, albeit targeting only the high-end consumers, was sure to create turmoil. In the relationship management world, a private banking RM was seen as belonging to a superior breed as compared to the normal branch RM. It was but natural for Vikram to be worried that most of his RMs would want to move to private banking roles. Anybody in his place would have been worried that the arrival of Private Banking would create discontent and unrest in his team.
‘Are you worried that your guys would want to move to them? If so, don’t bother too much. We will mandate that no branch RM will move to the private banking jobs as and when they come up,’ Tanuja tried to comfort Vikram.
‘Arre, nahin yaar. That’s not what I am worried about. On the contrary, I would want my guys to move to bigger and better roles. Let them take people from my team. Let them hire my RMs.’
‘What!’ Tanuja was surprised.
‘Yes, of course. In fact if my RMs have good careers, I will be extremely happy.’ Conviction was completely missing from what he said. There was silence at the other end. Then Tanuja burst out into a guffaw. ‘Hahahaha.’ She continued laughing for a while. ‘Now I understand!’
‘What?’
‘Bahut kamina hai tu! You’re too smart. . .just too smart.’
‘Arre, why?’
‘You want to fill in the new business with your own people. I know you too well, Vikram. If you pack the private banking team with RMs from your branch banking network who owe their allegiance to you, the business will be de facto in your control. And you, smart ass Vikram Bahl, will run that business remotely.’
‘Hehe. . .no no.’ Vikram was a bit embarrassed that Tanuja had called his bluff. ‘That’s not what I had in mind.’
‘Sure. Sure. If that’s not what you had in mind, then I am the Queen of England.’
‘No Tanuja.That isn’t my intention at all. But now that you say it, it might not be a bad idea. What’s the harm in getting one of our own guys to head private banking? I will release one of my best cluster managers for the job.’
‘Who? Rahul? Your brother-in-law?’ Tanuja was the only one who knew that one of the senior-most cluster managers in Vikram’s team was his wife’s first cousin. It was one of the few closely held secrets at GB2.
‘No yaar. That we will figure out later. But it will be someone from inside the team.’
‘Not possible, Vikram. The mandate is that for the head of private banking, we have to get talent from outside the group. They want a fresh perspective for this role.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Hmm. Start hunting for the Head of private banking, Mr Bahl. . .and that too from outside GB2.’
‘It won’t be difficult. I’ll send you a couple of guys. You speak to them directly. If you like them, I’ll ask Yogesh Bhargav to send you their CVs. We can then put them up to Indrani to hire.’
‘Good idea. The money Yogesh Bhargav will pass back to us if we hire through him will pay for our next Maldives holiday.’
‘Not on the intercom, babes. . . Anyway, I’m done. Ready to leave?’
‘Ten minutes. See you in the parking lot,’ and Tanuja hung up.
As promised, in ten minutes Vikram and Tanuja drove out of the basement car park in a steel grey Mitsubishi Lancer. They were neighbours and would often come to work and leave together.
‘I’m going to tell Abhishek to start preparing for the Maldives trip,’ said Tanuja as they crossed Ambassador hotel and turned right into Marine drive. ‘Tell Yogesh Bhargav we’ll pay him only ten per cent of the actual commission due on this deal. We’ll keep the rest.’
‘He will quietly take what we give him. In any case, he is an old man with one foot in the grave. What will he do with more than that?’ He looked at her and smiled. Tanuja smiled back. They crossed Haji Ali and were driving towards Parel where both of them stayed.
Vikram’s phone rang. It was lying on the dashboard of the car. Vikram’s hands were glued to the steering and the slow-moving traffic made it difficult for him to move his left hand away from the gear shaft. Tanuja picked it up. She saw the name flashing on the screen and looked at Vikram.
‘Why is he calling you?’
‘I don’t know. Take the call and ask him.’
‘It’s okay. Let it be.’ In any case, by then the phone stopped ringing.
In five minutes, Vikram turned left and drove into the compound of Marathon Towers in Parel. Tanuja stayed on the 18th floor of that building.
‘Thanks Vikram. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Take care.’
‘You too,’ and Vikram pressed the button to roll up the window which he had opened to see off Tanuja. Before he could roll it up completely, Tanuja turned back. ‘Oh, I completely forgot, Vikram. Tell me. . .are you going for Indrani’s dinner tomorrow?’
‘Nope.’
‘Why? Chal na. Let’s go. I won’t need to then worry about getting a ride back home.’
‘No Tanuja. Over a hundred and twenty people have been invited for this party. I saw the invitee list on Indrani’s secretary’s table. And you know na, I seldom go to parties that are for the masses. What’s the point of going to an event where your presence will not be felt?’ And he smiled, rolled up the window, turned the car and left.
As he exited Marathon Towers, he picked up his mobile. A casual glance told him there were no cops around. There was a missed call notification staring at him. He clicked on it and dialled the most recent missed call. It was picked up within one ring.
‘Yes dude, tell me.’
‘Vikram, sorry to disturb you so late. I called to update you.’
‘Not a problem. I’m driving. By the way, I was with someone earlier, so couldn’t talk when you called.’
‘Vikram, I went to meet Tanuja today. Even waited for over half an hour. She didn’t turn up.’
‘What the fuck man?’
‘Yes, Vikram, apparently she had something very critical which came up at the last minute. Something she couldn’t avoid.’
‘Bitch. Anyway, don’t worry. You stay focused. And make sure you get an audience with her and give her your entire perspective. Tell her everything we discussed. I know she is off to Delhi day after tomorrow. You must land up at her office and meet her tomorrow at any cost.’
‘Sure Vikram.’
‘Don’t worry, Nikhil. We’ll make sure your rating gets changed. And if they don’t, I’ll pull you out of there. You relax. And sleep well tonight. I’m with you on this one.’
‘Thanks Vikram.’
‘How long are you in Mumbai? When are you going back to Pune?’ Nikhil was based in Pune and he had come in to Mumbai only to discuss his performance appraisal.
‘I’ll be leaving after meeting Tanuja tomorrow.’
‘Cool. Goodnight Nikhil. Talk to you tomorrow,’ and Vikram hung up.
2
GB2 Head Office
February 2011
Nikhil met Tanuja the next day. Well aware of Tanuja’s reluctance to meet him, he just landed up at her office and parked himself there till she got free. Nikhil was well prepared. All the data, performance reports and email exchanges between Guneet and him, even the comparative performances of his peers, he carried with him.
‘Look at this, Tanuja,’ Nikhil fired off a salvo. ‘This guy has got a rating of “1” and hasn’t even met sixty per cent of his sales targets.’
Tanuja suddenly perked up. ‘How do you know the ratings? It’s supposed to be confidential.’
Nikhil laughed, ‘Tanuja, every organization is porous. Information does not stay within the four walls of any department. Everyone knows everyone else’s salary, bonus, performance rating and that’s not all. Let me tell you that even what goes into the personal files is not confidential.’
Tanuja looked shocked.
‘Why are you looking so dismayed, Tanuja? As if you don’t know? Can someone please tell me, that if this information was so confidential, how did Vikram call me up a week back and ask me why my rating was a “three” despite me meeting my numbers and delivering more than what the organization expected me to?’
‘I. . .I. . .how would I know? You must askkk. . .Vikram. . .I guess.’ Clearly, Tanuja was caught off guard.
‘Look Tanuja, I have tabled the facts in front of you. The numbers speak for themselves. You tell me what to do.’
‘Nikhil, this is a small issue.’
‘Maybe for you, not for me. For me it’s a culmination of a year’s efforts. I can understand anybody else saying so, but how can you, as Head of HR, call it a small issue?’
‘Stop being sarcastic, buddy. I understand. But you must realize, Nikhil, that this is a large organization. There’s no point taking issues head-on. You will unnecessarily get into conflicts with powerful people. And in any case, I can’t think of any individual in the bank whose rating has been changed in the last three years.’
‘So you are telling me that I am wasting your time?’
‘Not only my time, Nikhil. . .’ Tanuja let the statement hang.
‘Okay. Got it. Mine as well. Right. So you’re saying, in essence, that you can’t do anything about it.’
‘Nikhil, we go back a long way. For the sake of that relationship, I will make an honest attempt and try to speak to Guneet again and get back to you. However, I am not too hopeful.’
‘By when do you think you will be able to let me know?’
‘I will try to get back to you by tomorrow evening, but don’t raise your hopes.’
‘Thanks.’ And Nikhil left.
The moment the door closed behind Nikhil, Tanuja reached for the phone.
‘Our friend had come. He was crying a lot. Kya karna hai?’
‘We talked about this, Tanuja. The only reason I have given him a rating of “three” and not a “one”, despite the numbers having been met, is because there have been lots of people management issues. He has been abusive to his people. He is extremely aggressive, so much so that I am a bit worried about the business he books in his region. If one goes by tangibles on his list of deliverables, I have to give him a “one”, but performance appraisal is about behavioural aspects too, right? The “hows” rather than the “whats”,’ Guneet rationalized.
‘Understood. Are you saying he’s good for nothing?’
‘No, I’m not saying that. If you look at his appraisal document carefully, I have written that he is an extremely talented individual. If he is a bit careful about the way he conducts both himself and his business, he can be a great asset. This rating is my way of giving him serious feedback. In fact, he has worked with me for five years now. I don’t know why he has been behaving very strangely with me of late.’ He paused, as if he was waiting for a reaction. When there was none, he continued, ‘It’s as if someone is playing him. I’m a bit concerned. Clearly, Tanuja, someone is instigating him.’
‘I don’t know about that; anyway, let that be. What do you want to do with this rating? Now that it has come up to me, I need to send him a formal response. What should I tell him?’
‘I don’t think we should change the rating. Keep it the way it is. I will make it up to him in his bonus and increments, but let the rating and the reasons thereof be documented. It’s for his long-term benefit.’
‘Whatever you say,’ and Tanuja hung up. She called another number almost immediately.
The same evening she wrote to Nikhil, formally communicating to him that the organization’s stance was that the rating of three, decided by his line manager was correct and HR would not be able to change it in any manner. She marked a cc on the mail to Guneet.
A few floors away, Vikram smiled as he looked at his laptop screen. He clicked open the mail which had brought the sinister smile upon his face:
Dear Nikhil,
This is with reference to our discussion this afternoon on your performance appraisal and the subsequent rating. . .
Regards,
Tanuja.
Tanuja had blind copied him on that mail. At that very moment, his phone rang.
‘Hi Nikhil. I’m extremely sorry I couldn’t talk to you earlier when you called. Haven’t had a minute to breathe all day. How was your meeting with Tanuja?’
‘Good evening, Vikram. I met her. She was not helpful at all. In fact she has just responded formally.’
‘Achcha. What’s she saying?’ Vikram asked him even as he read the mail.
‘Wait, I will just send it to you. Sir, you please see it and tell me what to do. I am extremely upset.’
‘Arre, it’s okay, Nikhil. You’re a rock star. Don’t worry. Forward the mail to me. Let me read it. We will then work out what to do next.’
‘Forwarded, sir, as we speak.’
‘Okay. Wait.’ His laptop beeped, indicating a new mail had come in. ‘Wait. I think it’s come’. Vikram didn’t bother to open it. After pretending to read it, he came back on the phone.
‘This is utter nonsense. Have you gone back to Tanuja on this?’
‘Tanuja’s mail has just come, Vikram. The moment I saw the mail, I called you.’
‘Okay. Maybe you should just speak to her again. Or wait a minute, why don’t you speak to Guneet’s boss?’
‘The CEO?’
‘Yes.’
‘No point, Vikram. These guys are a coterie. The CEO will never show up Guneet for my sake. She will give me more reasons as to why she believes I’m a dud.’
‘But you’re not a dud!’
‘I know, Vikram. There is no point taking on the system. I will now lay off on this.’
‘No, I don’t think you should. Why don’t you do what I tell you to? It will help in the long run.’
The discussion went on for another thirty minutes. Nikhil was extremely flustered and Vikram was his newfound guru, his supporter. He knew Vikram was not particularly fond of Guneet but he didn’t know that dislike was the sole reason Vikram was humouring him.
The same evening, Nikhil replied to Tanuja. As Tanuja read the message, she smiled. She couldn’t help feeling proud of herself. Nikhil had been convinced. Issue handled. Or so she thought, till she came to the last line.
‘However, while all that you shared with me was the organization’s point of view, I do not think that it is a just appraisal. It’s one-sided and does not take into account all the hard work I have put in in the last twelve months to make sure I come good on my deliverables.’ What the hell was that? Tanuja suddenly sat up straight in her chair. ‘Hence I wish to inform you of my inability to continue in this role. Please treat this as my formal resignation from the services of the organization. I request you to relieve me at the end of the mandatory three-month notice period.’ The mail was marked to Guneet as well.
It just took a few seconds to change Tanuja’s mood. Suddenly, she was jittery. It was a known fact that the GB2 regional office did not take kindly to people quitting because they were unhappy with the appraisal process. She had encountered many individuals who had quit on such an account. But none of them had actually put it down in writing. Most of them would just quietly quit and move out.
She called Guneet. ‘What should we do?’
‘Nothing. Let him go. I think he is a good resource, but he is not more important than the organization. Rememb
er I told you, someone is guiding him.’
‘Hmm. . .but there will be repercussions, Guneet. He has been in the organization for twelve long years. After twelve years if he is quitting because he is unhappy with the performance rating, someone will ask uncomfortable questions.’
‘Let them. I will answer for it.’
‘That’s not the point, Guneet. HR will look like a bunch of idiots.’
‘Then you tell me what to do.’
‘Let me think and get back to you. I don’t have answers now. Anyway I have to leave for Indrani’s dinner. You coming?’
‘How can I not go? In these difficult days it is safer to have her on your side, right?’
Almost everyone from the senior management team of GB2 was at Indrani’s house for dinner. The flux the banking industry was going through had made bankers so insecure that almost everyone who was invited had planned to be there.
Tanuja was standing in the corner on Indrani’s terrace with the Compliance Head, and was talking to her on a new incentive scheme the bank was planning to implement. Someone tapped on her shoulder, making her turn.
‘Arre. I thought you said you are not going to come.’
‘Changed my mind at the last minute. I called your office, but your secretary told me that you had left.’
‘Chalo, good you are here. Now I will have someone to drive me home after the party.’
‘Why? Where is Abhishek? Why don’t you ask him to pick you up?’
‘Mr Consultant is travelling again.’
‘Where to?’
‘Europe.’
‘McKinsey is keeping him very busy?’ asked Vikram.
‘How do I care? As long as you are there with me, I am happy with him travelling all the time, baby,’ Tanuja said, winking at him.
Vikram was slightly embarrassed and hurriedly looked around to see if anybody had overheard the conversation. ‘What are you drinking?’
‘Wine. . .the usual,’ and she picked up her glass, which she had kept on the table nearby.
‘Hmm. . .nice. Let me get mine.’ Vikram started towards the bar.
‘By the way, there was lots of chaos today. Need to talk to you,’ Tanuja said a bit loudly as Vikram walked, away from her.
The Bankster (Ravi Subramanian) Page 3
