The Gate building, center left, in the Dubai International Financial Center, where Credit Suisse has offices.
Photographer: Christopher Pike/BloombergCredit Suisse Is Losing Mideast Staff Over a Toxic Work Culture
The executive who built a regional wealth powerhouse also fostered a brutal workplace, current and former employees say.
Bruno Daher, Credit Suisse Group AG's top executive in the Middle East, had an unusual message at a May sales meeting: an apology. He was sorry about having said earlier that he’d put a gun to his bankers’ heads if they didn’t shape up. He tends to speak in metaphors, he explained.
The contrition was striking because it contrasted so sharply with his typical approach. Behind the scenes at the operation that tends to fortunes in the region, Daher was better known for fiery displays and direct personal attacks, harangues peppered with expletives. He once tossed a Swiss flag into the trash and wielded threats that have prompted complaints from his staff, according to people who have worked with him.