This man wants to create a "go-to" investment bank out of the NCB business in Ireland

We're a little late with this, but the Sunday Times carried a long interview with Michael Cullen, CEO of Investec Ireland at the weekend. Therein, Cullen described his hopes for Investec in the Republic following its merger with stockbroker NCB.

Cullen said one of the big draws for the merger was the, "regard in which the NCB franchise is held internationally and the people."

NCB is the third largest stockbroker in Ireland and Cullen said he wants to make it the, " go-to specialist investment bank” in the Irish market.

“If there is a large corporate deal or personal wealth deal in two or three years’ time, we’d like to win it or lose it, but we’d like to think we will be in the frame,” he said.

Does this mean jobs at what was NCB are safe? Apparently not. Cullen has met with all the NCB staff, but apparently they've been given "no guarantees." All, however are being given a chance.