Old financiers never retire; they become part-time consultants and non-executive directors. This is an increasingly popular career path for bankers who, in an earlier age, would have retired early to a life of leisure. Many are energetically pursuing portfolio careers in which they juggle several commitments.

The list ranges from Colin Buchan, former global head of equities at UBS Warburg, and Alastair Ross Goobey, former chief executive of the fund manager Hermes, to Nicola Ralston, former chief investment officer of Schroder Investment Management, and Michael Deakin, former chief investment officer of Insight Investments.