The Last Look…
Posted by Colin Lambert. Last updated: April 14, 2026
The FX industry changed a little last week; for the first time in more than 50 years, Jack Linker was not a part of it, having taken a well-earned retirement. I had the good fortune to sit down with Jack for several hours 18 months ago – you can read the result of that here – but his retirement got me thinking about what made him so good and will we ever see the like again?
The first part of that question is easy – personality, knowledge, curiosity and a willingness to work hard and help people whenever he could. Jack will not be offended when I say he is not the only person with those skill sets, but few can match his longevity and output over that half-century and more.
The second part of the question is a little more complex, especially in today’s automated industry? Does personality even have a role to play in the era of chats and APIs? You will be unsurprised to learn that I think it does – just witness the success of Jack and several of his peers, most of whom have put in over 40 years in the business and continue to thrive and benefit their employers in the current environment. It is wrong to think that because they started in the very manual voice era, the skills sets of Jack and his peers are any less valuable now. I would argue they are even more important.
Yes, they have evolved with the industry and the discussions are different now, but it is still about being there for the clients when needed. I stress that last piece because talking to many on the client side they often voice their frustration at their coverage. It is not about getting inside information on what’s going on, or a look at the order book (well OK, it is with certain clients who we could probably name…), more it is about getting the right tools from the provider in the right place at the right time. And if the coverage person can’t achieve that, it is about them knowing who can, and expediting that.
It is also, however, about not bothering clients unnecessarily. When it comes to relationships, sometimes less is more…
The simple word for what made Jack (and many of his peers) so good is ‘facilitator’. If they knew, they dealt with the issue; if they didn’t, they’d find the right person who could. It sounds simple, but it is isn’t, because all workplaces are full of egos, some of which don’t like to be seen to be anything other than omniscient. Equally, it takes a degree of courage if you are still relatively fresh into your career – but senior enough – to say “I’m not sure I know, let me ask someone”.
Jack and his peers built their reputation by executing and facilitating, but along the way they also had help – the methods may have been different, but mentoring is not a new thing, it existed long ago! This is something that the next generation to ponder, you can stand out by asking what may be a tricky – or even basic – question. Doing so shows a fundamental honesty that people like.
The business is also a lot more complex that it used to be, purely because of the connectivity maze and breadth of channels. Understanding the technology is one thing, being able to solve issues and offer, for example, support for a specific execution, is another. These are skills that take time to develop, but in the meantime it’s OK to take advice and help.
So fare-thee-well Jack, I am proud to call you a friend. Your knowledge, work ethic and downright decency make you a very hard act to follow, and you have left behind countless tips and lessons in how to thrive in this business for those that want to learn.
I am not, however, going to state that you will be impossible to follow, because, like you, I am an optimist. Yes, the core skills may be slightly different, and the medium through which they communicate may be different, but I am going to back the next generation by stating that it will have its own “Jacks”. That person (people) may not go for 50-plus years in the business, and I suspect the stories may be a little different (and told more carefully in some instances), but at heart Jack believes in a few concepts that are as relevant today as they ever were. Work hard, look after your clients, have some humility, but be confident in your abilities.
Travel well Jack and enjoy. Here’s hoping that one of my successors is writing about one of yours in a similar vein in decades to come.
