France's €4.9bn rogue trader gets IT job

Must be good with numbers...

French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel, who cost Société Générale €4.9bn (£3.8bn), has got himself a new job as a computer consultant.

Kerviel was released on bail in mid-March and joined the consultancy in April. Kerviel originally worked in the bank's back office before becoming a trader.

His spokesman told AP: "Jerome is a young man who wants to work, and doesn't want to remain inactive living on unemployment insurance — or whatever." Kerviel is working for LCA consultancy in the Paris suburb of Levallois.

The judge in his case changed the conditions of his bail so he could take the post - he still faces possible charges relating to Société Générale's losses. He is still barred from entering any trading room.

SocGen lost serious credibility as a result of the loss - it was forced into a rights issue to cover the hole in its accounts.

It is also seen as a possible takeover target with both Barclays or Italy's Unicredit named as possible bidders. ®