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An Audience With Stephen Bird: ‘I have no regrets about Abrdn rebrand’

The former Citigroup banker says he is building a business that is fit for the 21st century

Stephen Bird admits the first 16 months in the job have meant difficult decisions have had to be made, not least cutting the dividend by a third
Stephen Bird admits the first 16 months in the job have meant difficult decisions have had to be made, not least cutting the dividend by a third Photo: Danilo Agutoli for FN

Stephen Bird is remarkably candid about some of the challenges he faced when he arrived as chief executive of Abrdn almost 18 months ago.

The 54-year-old former banker had for more than two decades worked his way up to top jobs at Citigroup, overseeing its business in Asia Pacific before heading the global consumer banking division from New York. The latter role was handed to Jane Fraser when Bird quit, shortly before she was named CEO of the US bank.

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