The new Credit Suisse boss isn't known for a penchant to act with haste. Still, according to media reports, he is planning to present the new strategy for the bank much earlier than anticipated. And that's not the only thing to raise eyebrows.

If you act with undue haste, you will pay the price, earlier or later: This was one of the guiding principles Tidjane Thiam (picture), the new chief executive promised to adhere to at Credit Suisse. Thus he impressed on staff, investors and the general public, that he wasn't one to be harried into decisions.

Thiam's catchphrase was in particularly meant to apply to the strategic evaluation of Switzerland's second-biggest bank, which analysts expected for November.

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Things seem to have changed. Thiam will present his plan for the bank in early October, «Schweiz am Sonntag» reported on Sunday, citing anonymous sources (article in printed version). Daily «Tagesanzeiger» claims to know that the strategy will be published on October 6. The bank didn't want to comment the reports.

The unexpected speed of publication of the strategic rethink as well as the measures to be expected according to the media, raise questions.

1. Vague About Capital Increase

Professional investors will have been satisfied to read in «Schweiz am Sonntag» that the bank wants to announce a capital increase, the main reason behind the earlier publication date of the new strategy.

Strenghthening the capital base is according to finews.ch the most urgent measure for the bank, giving it room to enact on its new strategy. It is a little surprising that this aspect should still remain vague, raising uncertainties (see 5).

2. Scaling Back at Biggest Asset

Shareholders told CS in 2014 that the private banking unit had to be expanded at the expense of the capital-intensive investment bank. If the media reports are correct, Thiam intends to chop an important chunk off exactly that unit, the private banking activities in the U.S., where the CS, according to «Schweiz am Sonntag» has assets under management worth about 100 billion francs.

Of course, Thiam would follow up on his promise to judge units of the bank purely on performance, but the expected expansion of private banking would be thrown back substantially.

3. Cut in Prime Brokerage Unit

A little less surprising is the alleged retrenchment in the prime brokerage at the investment bank. It's not the first time that reductions at particularly capital-intensive business with large institutional investors such as hedgefonds have been talked about. At the same time, CS is an international top player with this unit. Giving up such a position might prove costly.

4. Parting With Experienced Executives

The Sunday paper also reported about the potential loss of experienced executives at CS. Robert Shafir, co-head at private banking, and David Mathers, chief financial officer, may be affected by personnel changes. Gaël de Boissard, head of investment banking, may replace Mathers.

Shafir and Mathers are men of Brady Dougan, predecessor of Thiam. They enjoy nevertheless a good reputation within the bank. According to the paper, the board might even object to changes affecting the two.

Should Shafir leave, co-head of private banking, Ulrich Meister, would be moved into the limelight even further. He might be left to lead the unit, which Thiam expects the most from. Whether Meister would remain at the helm of the Swiss unit of CS isn't clear yet.

5. Insecurity Instead of Clear Communication

The unconfirmed stories from within the bank are bound to increase incertitude at the bank. Analysts at Neue Helvetische Bank said: «The incertitude surrounding the almost permanent restructuring of CS will prompt investors to invest in UBS, which is almost done with its restructuring process.»

Assisting the archrival is hardly what Thiam intends to do. He's more likely to remember another guiding principle instead: Communication is key for every successful activity.