Macquarie Bank says trader will not lose job over near-nude photos
David Kiely was seen in the background of a TV interview viewing revealing pictures of supermodel Miranda Kerr
Friday 5 February 2010 11.31 GMT
The Macquarie Bank trader who gained worldwide notoriety when he was caught out viewing racy pictures in the background during a TV interview will keep his job, the bank said today.
A banal interview about Australia's interest rates on the 7 News channel became a worldwide viral hit when David Kiely returned to his desk while cameras were rolling and opened a computer file containing revealing photos of supermodel Miranda Kerr.
Kiely clicked through various scantily clad Kerr poses, unaware that behind his shoulder Macquarie's private wealth adviser, Martin Lakos, was being interviewed.
Macquarie said that Kiely, the subject of a "Save Dave" web campaign, had been spared the chop despite appearing to breach company policy on the use of computers.
"He will remain an employee of Macquarie," the bank said in a statement. "Macquarie and the employee apologise for any offence that may have been caused."
The 26-year-old Kerr, who is engaged to British film star Orlando Bloom, reportedly gave Kiely her backing too, saying that she was willing to jump on the "Save Dave" bandwagon. "I am told there is a petition to save his job, and of course I would sign it," Kerr said in a news.com.au report.