Private banker stays ahead with suit, tie and integrity
PRIVATE BANKER Stephen Richards Evans seemed the perfect person to consult on his particular executive tastes. A private banker who favours Ermenegildo Zegna suits, Mr Richards Evans is regional chief executive for private banking for Lloyds TSB Asia, Britain's largest retail bank.
As Mr Richards Evans heads into work each day, his aim is to seek out the rich and famous - and alleviate from them the burden of managing their finances.
Mr Richards Evans has worked for the Lloyds TSB Group in six countries over a stretch of 20 years, 13 of them in Asia.
The Welsh-born teacher, philanthropist and banker landed in Hong Kong three years ago for his second stint in the city.
He runs marathons, scuba dives, reads eclectically (from biographies to social anthropologies, history to Harry Potter), collects Asian paintings, enjoys fine wine and travels.
Mr Richards Evans also speaks fluent French and German, fair Italian and a smattering of Cantonese and Manadarin.
The Informer tracked him down for some answers.
Why did you become a banker? Well - I could count at school, so I became a banker.
Richest person ever met Discretion does not permit me to name him - but I believe the truly richest persons are those with the wherewithal to act always in good faith (see Matthew 19:22). Favourite rich person/celebrity whose money you would like to manage Tung Chee-hwa - because good money management is not just about dollars and cents!
Favourite place to chat with clients In front of the hi-fi at home also accompanied by . . .
Favourite drink/cocktail Chateau Margaux - which is a popular but expensive French red wine.
I developed the financially ruinous taste for fine wine whilst living for a year in France.
I often left princely sums of money in exchange for glasses of the finest bordeaux at La Tartine cafe in the Rue de Rivoli in the Maras district of Paris. This is purportedly the cafe where Lenin and Trotsky used to meet over a glass of exquisite French wine whilst both resident in Paris to plot the destruction of such decadent capitalist places as, well, La Tartine.
Number of paintings in personal art collection I do not wish to reveal that since the wife would then discover, for the first time, the real extent of the problem.
Favourite painter and painting I like Peter Paul Rubens because he represents everything that was best about the Baroque period - intellectually and emotionally.
I like The Deposition because of one of its key themes - the frailty and humanity of Christ - and also the brilliance and power of the composition, its motion, emotion, detail and luminosity.
Most interesting stretch of land ever run on Black's Link in Hong Kong. It is the escarpment along the top of the Aberdeen Country Park part of the Peak linking Wong Nei Chung Gap and Wan Chai Gap.
The view over the city at night is stunning. I have seen large cobras crossing the paths and spitting at my two beagles on occasion at night which always helps me run faster through that stretch.
Longest distance run That would be 26 miles and 385 yards, which is the official distance of a standard marathon, of which I have completed over twenty in eight different countries/territories.
The experience has always been totally exhausting, but uplifting, especially when I also managed to raise money for charity.
Usual business attire Suit, tie, integrity.
Favourite books For awesome technical brilliance my favourite is Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert (read Julian Barnes' absolutely brilliant Flaubert's Parrot too) and two recent 'good reads': The Map that Changed the World by Simon Winchester -the hero spent a lot of time near my home in the West Country of England - and Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond - a truly original, fascinating piece of socio-anthropology.
