Banker blames 'Germanification'

Restructuring "favoured German and German-speaking employees"

A City high-flyer was forced out of his £2.2m a year job following a process of "Germanification", an employment tribunal has been told.

Malcolm Perry, 45, from Barnes in south-west London, is suing the Frankfurt-based investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort for £10m.

An ex-colleague of Mr Perry's told the tribunal restructuring favoured German, or German-speaking, members of staff.

The bank admits unfairly dismissing Mr Perry but denies racial discrimination.

Less qualified

Stephen Belloti, who formerly worked with Mr Perry, told the hearing his dismissal was part of a raft of changes at the bank, which forced out non-Germans or non-German speakers.

Mr Belloti, 46, who like Mr Perry is originally from Australia, said he was "shocked" when his colleague was passed over for a new job in favour of a less qualified candidate.

In a written statement, Stephen Belloti said: "The majority of the replacements were German or German speakers and I do not believe that performance or experience were relevant factors in the selection of the replacements for the existing managers."

The hearing was adjourned until Friday.