The dastardly Mr Deedes
Lord Mandelson has relinquished his role as Chairman of Lazard’s international arm, which he’s held since 2012. A Lazard spokesman says Mandelson, 63, will remain a paid adviser to the bank, remarking: ‘He provides advice and assistance to the leadership team and our clients in London – as demonstrated to great effect by the insights that he was in a position to share with us and our clients in the aftermath of the EU referendum.’ Money for old rope, isn’t it? Boris Johnson’s younger brother Max is named among Asia’s 50 most eligible bachelors by Hong Kong Tatler, describing him as a ‘Hong Kong-based Goldman Sachs mover and shaker.’ Two minor quibbles. Firstly, Max, 31, a Bojo doppelganger, is squiring a serious girlfriend. Secondly, he and Goldman have just parted company. So what’s next for Johnson (mi)? ‘Watch this space,’ he replies bashfully. Wily City PR man and Remain campaigner Roland Rudd, 55, hosted his annual party at Tate Britain this week. Among those supping The Rat’s excellent Champagne were devoted Brexiteers, Lords Marland and Robathan. Judging by the looks of quiet satisfaction on these two Tory grandees’ well-flushed faces, even flat spumante would have tasted like premier cru. Jamie Dimon for Treasury Secretary? Wall Street pundits insist the £18ma-year JP Morgan honcho remains in contention. After ten years as JP boss, it would allow the Teflon-coated Dimon, 60, to depart on a high. Plus it would deliver an upturned digit to out-going President Barack Obama, who’s snubbed him since the bank announced a £1.6bn trading loss in 2012. I’ve had a small(ish) wager with Betway at 6/4 to keep things interesting. Tesco bank’s much-travelled boss Benny Higgins, 56 – under pressure after 40,000 of his customers’ accounts were recently hacked – was present at a press junket yesterday in Hertfordshire hosted by the bullish Tesco chief Dave Lewis. Says a source: ‘It was a bit peculiar. He wasn’t there as a speaker, just loitering on his own in the front row. None of us were quite sure what he was doing there.’ Grabbing some much-needed face time with ‘Drastic’ Dave is my guess.