News

An Australian banker who became an internet sensation after he was caught on live television viewing images of a scantily clad supermodel on his computer will keep his job, Macquarie Bank said on Friday.

“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.”

David Kiely, who works in Macquarie Private Wealth in Sydney, opened e-mails on Tuesday containing pictures of Kerr, unaware a colleague behind him was doing a live television interview about the Australian economy.

The incident became a YouTube hit and sparked an online campaign that urged forgiveness.

The financial website Here is the City News set up a “Save Dave” page encouraging readers to e-mail the public relations department of Macquarie Bank to save Kiely's job.

The web campaign listed four reasons why Kiely should be allowed to keep his job: he seems like a nice bloke; the photographs were not hard-core; he has suffered enough; and there's just too much political correctness in this world anyway.

Even Kerr, a 26-year-old Australian-born model engaged to Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, said she hoped the banker would not lose his job.

“I am told there is a petition to save his job, and of course I would sign it,” news.com.au quoted her as saying.

Macquarie is known in Australian banking circles as the “millionaire's club” because of the high bonuses earned by some of its staff.