Goldman Sachs: Layoffs, Rumors, Retirements and A Controversial Promotion

Here's a fun one: at the end of January it was reported that Goldman would be cutting 5% of its global workforce, because (pick one) a. These bottoms weren't living up to the Goldmany Goldman standard b. As it turns out, Goldman's not better than everyone else (well, better than Citi but who isn't?) c. Someone knocked over the printing press GS uses to make the money and with the new one on back order and the Kinkos employees on break, the firm was forced to take desperate measures.

Either way, 5 percent globally, not that big a D. Now some rumors going around the city's biggest shuls seem to imply that things are worse than previously imagined. Apparently unexpected firings at 85 Broad today have people panicked that Goldman could layoff an overall 25 percent of its workforce.

Meanwhile, Peter Kraus, who took over as head of investment management in June 2001, just retired, according to sources familiar with the matter of making a firing look involuntary (We kid!...).

Remember Mark Spilker? He was the guy who cut down Kynikos founder Jim Chanos's hedges in the Hamptons without asking first this summer. He was just added to Goldman's management committee, the small coterie which runs the bank. That can't be good.

Goldman, of course, had no comment (unless you consider the sound of someone laughing and crying at the same time a comment).

Comments

Posted by guest, Mar 04, 2008 11:30AM

Oops I crapped my pants!

Posted by LeverHedge, Mar 04, 2008 1:23PM

Spilker is a muppet.
Lloyd's coffee boy.
Unbelievable that a guy of this caliber makes it onto the management committee.
Sell Goldman. Its not the franchise it once was and anybody worth their salt has left to start their own fund. Most successfully, a few of Spilker's old colleagues, not. Like Beller and Grant.

Posted by BottomFellOut, Mar 04, 2008 2:47PM

Agreed Spilker is very non-functional.

Posted by guest, Mar 04, 2008 7:23PM

can we please get who got the boot ? is their mortgages trading and structuring group still intact ?

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 3:09PM

Goldman is losing the better, hard working employees and keeping the losers who twiddle their thumbs all day and politic. By the end of the lay offs Goldman will not have any employees left who actually do any work.

Posted by mrskeptic, Mar 05, 2008 4:47PM

Lloyd has sprinkled his magic dust by promoting all is buddies in the commodities business to senior positions within the firm. One can only wait and see what will happen from this case of excessive patronage.

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 4:53PM

I would be careful betting against Lloyd. He's nobody's fool.

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 10:22PM

Goldman only plays politics well, it has been able to fake a good reputation ... i cant imagine why they are cutting off outstanding people's jobs when they claim they are not affected by economic slowdown ... Goldman is fake and run by poor management ..

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 10:25PM

I think Goldman should sell or close down ... its no good in there ... whats LIoyd doing ? He is a mis-managed fellow and should be the first to step down ..

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 10:27PM

Goldman even promotes based on false reviews .. its whole performance review process is biased and manipulated .. No place for the good old anymore ...

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 10:28PM

Does anyone know the inside news whats going on within Goldman ????

Posted by guest, Mar 05, 2008 10:30PM

I think Goldman should sell or close down ... its no good in there ... whats LIoyd doing ? He is a mis-managed fellow and should be the first to step down ..

Posted by guest, Mar 10, 2008 1:36PM

Cannot agree more-- false reviews .. its whole performance review process is biased and manipulated .. No place for the good old anymore ...

Posted by guest, Mar 10, 2008 1:46PM

Is it just me, or do the last six posts sound like they're from the same eastern european who's pissed at being laid off.

Posted by guest, Apr 11, 2008 4:22PM

Knew Spilker as a kid. He was a spoiled, disliked dysfunctional brat then...and nothing more than a "follow the leader type." Funny how things didn't change for him as he morphed into adulthood. But the consolation prize of having no integrity apparently is being filthy rich...I'm sure he has no problem living with that.

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