Rogue trader Nick Leeson is returning to the job market for the first time since his huge unauthorised losses as a futures trader resulted in the collapse of Britain's oldest investment bank.
Mr Leeson, who has served a prison sentence in Germany and Singapore and still has a £100 million (€144 million) injunction levelled against him, said he was looking for "mainstream", nine-to-five employment for the first time since leaving Barings. He is currently living in the Republic.
"I'm not quite sure what it will be - something in business, maybe," said Mr Leeson, who has spent the years since his release studying for a degree in psychology, and making occasional after- dinner speeches and media appearances.
"It could be a complete change of direction. A few people have offered me jobs, but they don't totally suit... I have to work. I have no other source of income."
Mr Leeson is living here and married his new wife Leona in Ireland this year, makes his remarks in an interview in today's Financial Times newspaper.
His ex-wife, Lisa, divorced him by letter while he was still in prison. In August Mr Leeson, who was treated for colon cancer while serving his sentence in Singapore, passed the all-important five-year point from his first cancer treatment.
He was recently told that he can father children, despite being warned that the treatment in Singapore had probably left him sterile.
"In the next few years, if not sooner, Leona and I would like to move somewhere warmer than Ireland, perhaps have a child together, and I'd like to be in gainful employment somewhere."
He said the reason for seeking employment is his hope that the £100 million injunction will be lifted soon, as the litigation between the firms responsible for auditing Barings' accounts and the Barings liquidators reaches a conclusion.
Half of everything he earns has to go to the liquidators.
Despite sporting one of the worst CVs imaginable, Mr Leeson said he was offered a risk management role at Dutch energy company a few years ago, and was even offered a position as trader. He wanted a job to give him "stability" in his life.
"I took my sentence, I got cancer, I got divorced and I've accepted it all. And now I've got a second chance, I'm going to take it.
"I'm always going to get some people who won't be happy until I'm dead, but I also think people are willing to give me a chance."
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