Risk, ratings, and a rise in reputation... ⚠️

In our THIRTIETH episode, join Ali and Noman as they meet Olivier Beroud, the Executive Chair of ARC Risk Group, to discuss credit ratings and the future of risk management.

With an illustrious career spanning continents and household names, Olivier has held senior positions in risk management at GCR Ratings, Moody’s Investors’ Service, Barclays and Standard & Poor’s. Passionate about risk appetite but also education and mentorship, Olivier's consulting firm allows him to coach executives, lecture around the world and mentor students with financial fanaticism.

Elaborating on his various roles and hot-takes on the function of credit ratings as a foundation of the global financial ecosystem, both his theoretical insights and practical advice turn this episode into a must-watch for anyone who envisions themselves with a future in finance!

Olivier Beroud - https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivier-beroud-3854423/

🎥 Recorded: 9th October

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:11 - Olivier’s Career Snapshot 🧭

5:03 - What Drew Him to Risk & Credit 📚

6:17 - Mentors, Networks & Early Lessons 🤝

9:57 - Why Accounting Still Matters 🧾

12:21 - Inside S&P: Learning Credit 🏭

15:06 - How Rating Agencies Really Work 📊

19:54 - Handling High-Stakes Meetings as a Young Analyst 🧑‍⚖️

23:40 - Big Agencies vs Niche Players 🚢

27:25 - How Banks Rate Risk Internally 🏦

30:54 - The ThyssenKrupp Downgrade Case ⚖️

35:03 - Independence, Conflicts & the 2008 Impact 🧩

42:13 - Tech, AI & The Future of Ratings ⏱️

46:57 - ESG in Practice: Real-World Challenges 🌍

55:02 - Building ARC into a Global Player 📈

1:03:40 - Key Lessons & Advice for Students ✨

1:09:10 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.