The ousted executives included the chairman of Citigroup's international operations, Deryck C. Maughan.

Isuzu hired him as general manager and later made him chairman of its American operations.

Alan Boyd, chairman of Airbus's North American operations, said his tactics are no more aggressive than his rivals'.

Michael Babcock, chairman of Hooker's retail operations in the United States, was said by several recruiters to be seeking a job outside the company.

His move to Stagecoach saw Renilson take over as chairman of the group's operations in Scotland and Kenya.

"We cannot reject any possibilities, none," said Katsuya Takanashi, the new chairman of Nomura's American operations.

Mr. Takanashi, who was recently elevated from president to chairman of Nomura's American operations, spoke more diplomatically but sounded the same theme.

Until Lehman collapsed, de Guindos was executive chairman of the bank's operations in Spain and Portugal.

He rose to become chairman of its foreign operations.

In 1947, he joined Reckitt & Coleman, a pharmaceuticals concern, where he rose to become chairman of the company's overseas operations.