Hi Adam! Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Adam Greenblatt and I'm the CEO of a BetMGM, a sports betting and omnichannel business, based in New York. I was born in Cape Town but spent the majority of my adult life in London, before moving to the US.
When did you join Rothschild & Co?
I joined the London office 2001 after three years at Arthur Andersen, pretty much bottom of the ladder, and left as a director in 2008. I was really lucky to work with such talented and influential people, which can be a double-edged sword because you have to make a good impression early on, so your work- life balance can suffer. But it was amazing. I got 20 years experience in ten years of work.
What are your memories of working at Rothschild & Co?
My fondest memories are the people. We just had a lot of laughs. Culturally it was very collaborative and constructive, but of course there were funny stories. I spent a lot of the time with a chap called Ben Davey, who’d been a barrister and came into banking from a legal background. He and I were kind of a duo, and advised on a deal together in the early 2000s. I was a junior banker and we created a model to support our pitch, but we completely forgot about the tax line, which meant our valuation was sky high. Another time, one members of my team accidentally fat-fingered faxed a formal offer letter for a public company to an uninvolved private equity house, which was a bit: “Holy moly, now what?”
Are you a member of the Rothschild & Co Alumni Network?
I am. My professional life is a full-on sprint. Moving countries and three young kids doesn't leave much space for keeping in contact with friends and family in the UK and in South Africa. I haven't been as good as I should have been in keeping up. But when the bonds are strong, you can easily pick up where you left off.
Do your kids sound British, South African or American?
The twins are now eight, and prior to our move to the US, I had only just got my head around the fact they would say: “Hello, dah-ddy” with a very British accent! Now the US twang has taken a firm grip: “Traash”, “Daipers”. I can’t keep up!
How did your time at Rothschild & Co help you get you where you are today?
My time at Rothschild & Co was fundamental to my career progress. It was a very productive, high-intensity time where I really internalised the concept of professional credibility and accountability. For the first time in my professional journey, I understood everything we do is part of our performance history. Everything's judged, evaluated, and reflects on you personally and as a company. Output and judgment must always be of the highest quality. We need to stand the rear-view mirror test. Do you still have your integrity intact? Are you still proud of the work you've done and the advice you've given? That is very deep in everything I do in a professional world.
What else did you learn?
I also learned early on that being different can be a strength. I was born in Cape Town and went to university in South Africa, so I'm not the cookie cutter UK banker. Yet there was space for me at Rothschild & Co and I always felt supported. Individuals are most productive when they bring their authentic selves to work and feel there is space for them to be different, and there is mutual respect. That's where you get the most out of people. I was privileged to be given that opportunity at Rothschild & Co, and I take that forward with a lot of gratitude.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-greenblatt-28712a16/