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LoginNick Leeson 'Rogue trader' named football CEO
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The man who helped bring down Barings Bank in 1995 through illegal financial dealings has been appointed Galway United Football Club's chief executive.
Nick Leeson served more than three-and-a-half years in a Singapore jail after being convicted of fraud.
He has rebuilt his life on the west coast of Ireland, and became Galway United's general manager in 2005.
In a statement on the club's website Chairman John Fallon said Mr Leeson had "been a wonderful addition".
Leeson's activities as a "rogue trader" in the currency market triggered Barings' collapse and its assets were subsequently sold for just £1 to Dutch bank ING.
His experiences were dramatised in a film starring Ewan McGregor. In March of this year, Mr Leeson revealed he had started to deal in currencies again, using his own money.
Galway United - founded as Galway Rovers in 1937 - was promoted to Ireland's Eircom League Premier Division this season, and currently ranks third from bottom of the table.
Mr Fallon said the new CEO - originally from Watford in Hertfordshire - had "driven the club forward over the past few years".
In a statement on the club's website the new chief said a lot of hard work had taken place at the club but there was "still a lot to do".
"But the club is heading in the right direction and I am looking forward to being part of that development," Mr Leeson said.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6918412.stm
Brought down the Queen's bank, convicted of fraud, now CEO of a football club.
Some guys have all the luck.
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