Author reveals Fred Goodwin's 'obsession with filing cabinets'

clock

Fred Goodwin's 'details orientated' management style - which included introducing thousands of custom-made round-topped storage units to deal with his growing irritation over piles of paper - has been showcased in a new book.

The former boss of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is also said to have insisted on control of the production of the group's Christmas card as he did not like the design approved by another manager, the Telegraph reports. Goodwin is also said to have personally selected the colours of the RBS executive car fleet so that it exactly matched the bank's corporate blue. The report added the interiors of the 12 cars had to exactly match the same beige as the carpets in the RBS offices. The details are found in author Iain Martin's book Making it Happen: Fred Goodwin, RBS and the Men Who Blew Up t...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Ascot Lloyd links up with BlackRock for investment offering

Ascot Lloyd links up with BlackRock for investment offering

A move to a single investment provider

Isabel Baxter
clock 04 August 2026 • 2 min read
Beyond London: Adviser opportunities in regional investment

Beyond London: Adviser opportunities in regional investment

Hugi Clarke unpacks the regional growth agenda

Isabel Baxter
clock 31 July 2026 • 1 min read
Looking beyond the oil shock

Looking beyond the oil shock

'A few weeks ago, there was genuine reason for optimism'

Fahad Hassan
clock 27 July 2026 • 4 min read