We've noted recently that bankers seemed to have the upper hand within diversified banks, as the traders have stumbled. Dealmakers are more likely to keep their job, and are perhaps poised to take a greater role in management. In Europe, bankers are taking over CEO spots at an impressive clip, notes Breakingviews.

"The latest name in the frame is Andrea Orcel, one of the leading contenders to take the top spot at UniCredit," Breakingviews reports. "If he lands the job, the Merrill Lynch dealmaker will be the third investment banker to be appointed CEO of a large European lender in a month, following the promotions of Stuart Gulliver at HSBC and Bob Diamond at Barclays. Other investment bankers who have risen to the top since the crisis include Oswald Gruebel, the former Credit Suisse boss now in charge of UBS; Royal Bank of Scotland chief Stephen Hester."

In the U.S., this isn't a huge issue at most companies. The CEOs of the top banks, like Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase aren't going anywhere soon. But there is a lot of speculation surrounding Goldman Sachs, whose management ranks have been dominated by traders as of late. The board will have to develop some succession plans--even if long-term--and it may have tipped its hand a bit by elevating the profile of Michael Evans, who some think might be a candidate to replace CEO Lloyd Blankfein at some point. 

For more:
- here's the Reuters article

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