Andrew MacDowall

Serbia

Independent Consultant and Writer at Freelance

Contributing Writer, The Banker at Financial Times

Independent consultant & writer. Founding director, @TorosAdvisory. Sometime CEE correspondent. Bylines @Guardian @FT @WPReview etc. Long-suffering #THFC victim

Articles

Dodik Is Pushing Bosnia to the Breaking Point-Again

1 week ago | worldpoliticsreview.com | Andrew MacDowall

When armed police prevented the arrest of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on April 23, it marked the latest escalation in a growing crisis afflicting Bosnia, one that some warn could be an existential test for the fragile country. How could police themselves prevent an arrest? The answer lies in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s notoriously complicated governing system.
Croatia’s Populist President Looks Set to Win Another Term

Nov 28, 2024 | yahoo.com | Andrew MacDowall

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has arguably never been more powerful than he is today. In his eight years in office, he has steered Croatia away from Russian influence and aligned it squarely with its partners in the European Union and NATO. Compared to Croatia’s multiyear recession in the 2010s, he now presides over one of the highest GDP growth rates in the EU.
Croatia Election: Populist Milanovic Aims for Another Term

Nov 28, 2024 | worldpoliticsreview.com | Andrew MacDowall

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has arguably never been more powerful than he is today. In his eight years in office, he has steered Croatia away from Russian influence and aligned it squarely with its partners in the European Union and NATO. Compared to Croatia’s multiyear recession in the 2010s, he now presides over one of the highest GDP growth rates in the EU.
Latvia’s Domestic To-Do List Could Hobble Its EU and NATO Ambitions

Mar 7, 2024 | worldpoliticsreview.com | Andrew MacDowall

For all their relatively small size, the Baltic states are increasingly asserting themselves on the European and NATO stage. And Latvia is intent on not being left out. The country contributed just under 1 percent of its GDP to Ukraine last year, and it now exceeds NATO’s spending target, with a 2024 defense budget equal to 2.4 percent of its GDP and a commitment to raise that to 3 percent by 2027.
Slovakia Elections: Could Pro-Europe Direction Be Reversed?

Sep 27, 2023 | worldpoliticsreview.com | Andrew MacDowall

A highly controversial three-time former prime minister who opposes military support to Ukraine and echoes Russian arguments on the war looks set to win Slovakia’s parliamentary elections on Sept. 30, with the potential to reverse the European Union and NATO member state’s political direction.
Lazard delivers highly tailored but tough advice

Sep 13, 2023 | thebanker.com | Andrew MacDowall

Lazard delivers highly tailored but tough adviceThe elite boutique investment bank had advised on numerous market-defining deals in the past few years despite difficult market conditions, as the managing director of ECM and co-head of ECM for Europe tells Andrew MacDowall. |September 15 Marking its 175th anniversary this year, financial advisory and asset management company Lazard has come a long way from its founding in New Orleans by three sons of a family of French peddlers.
RMB looks to power the African transition

Aug 23, 2023 | thebanker.com | Andrew MacDowall

RMB looks to power the African transitionRand Merchant Bank has very few discussions with clients that do not involve some type of energy transition and sustainability offering, its head of investment banking tells Andrew MacDowall.
Commerzbank’s restructure pays dividends

May 23, 2023 | thebanker.com | Andrew MacDowall
Commerzbank’s restructure pays dividends

May 23, 2023 | thebanker.com | Andrew MacDowall
Commerzbank’s restructure pays dividends

May 23, 2023 | thebanker.com | Andrew MacDowall

In February 2023, Commerzbank rejoined Germany’s benchmark DAX index, after being removed in 2018. The bank’s historic departure from the DAX — losing it its official status as a blue-chip company — was driven in part by doubts over its capacity to restructure. Nearly five years later, Commerzbank is seeing the results of a tough restructuring programme, including 10,000 job cuts and the closure of more than half its German branches.