Robert Diamond, CEO of Barclays Bank, has been in the position since January 2011. Before that he was Barclays’ Chief Executive of Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth Management, as well as the President of Barclays PLC. With a lifetime of experience in the banking and investment industries, Diamond brings a great depth of knowledge and ability to the role. In 2010 he was voted the 37th most influential of New Statesman’s 50 Figures Who Matter for that year.

Also among the most highly-paid executives, Diamond’s compensation has been the subject of scrutiny since the financial meltdown. An early 2012 bonus rumoured to be around £11m is due to be paid, but critics are encouraging him to put the approval for that up to a shareholder vote. In this way, they say, the shareholders would have a more active voice – as well as the ability to be held publicly accountable – for the amount of money paid for executive-level compensation.

At a recent press conference, Barclays hinted that it may miss one of its profitability targets – yet still planned to provide Diamond with one of the largest bonuses of any bank executive in the UK. This comes after Stephen Hester, CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland, said he would not take his 2011 bonus despite improving performance at RBS. RBS is partially state-owned after a large buyout in response to difficulties with bad debts. Barclays has said it is moving towards smaller cash bonuses and larger amounts paid in stock, which can only be redeemed after set time periods.

Diamond has stated that he believes bankers can be good citizens, and that the banks need to do more to “explain what banks do to create jobs and economic growth.” However, the size of bonuses paid at Barclays and other banks, particularly in the investment and hedge fund divisions, has left people wondering exactly what the definition of ‘good citizen’ might be.

Going forward, “Diamond will have to once again lay out a road map on how he can improve returns,” stated Christopher Wheeler, an analyst at Mediobanca SpA. As one part of that road map, the bank has decreased its dividend to six pence per share. The company’s stock price has declined 25 percent over the past year, and in response the bank has raised its cost-cutting target to £2bn over the next year. These moves should not only help bolster profits, but assure stockholders that the bank is well on its way to firmer footing, profit-wise.

Diamond has said that the bonus cash cap was the “right thing to do” as a way that the bank can be responsive to its pubic. Annual salaries for the eight highest-paid senior executives and executive directors will be reduced by nearly half, yet Diamond’s own compensation level has raised some eyebrows. His 2011 award came in at £6.5m.