We've been informed that a Barcap banking analyst (tech, a legacy Lehman employee) killed himself over the weekend of the 15th. One account claimed that he'd been up for three days working and was berated by a superior, but that has not been confirmed and may simply be a product of the rumor mill. The layoffs that went down yesterday were apparently supposed to occur last week but were pushed back because of the tragedy. Barclays has not yet returned calls for comment.
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Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:11PM
Why would layoffs that were supposed to happen last week be delayed because of a suicide this past weekend? Sounds suspicious...
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:13PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:14PM
who was it??
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:14PM
@2 you are a total retard
Posted by Bess Levin , May 28, 2009 1:14PM
@1- that was my error. It was the weekend before Memorial Day weekend.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:16PM
Very sad. Is this a "tech analyst" as in IBD or equity research?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:16PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:16PM
What a f'ing horrible place to work.
Poor fellas.
Posted by Anal_yst , May 28, 2009 1:16PM
pending further details/clarifications, damn, shame, never wanna hear stuff like this.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:16PM
My sympathies to his friends, coworkers, and family.
Totally bad news.
I bet the legions of bottom feeding populist maxine waters/barney frank/obamaites would love a chance to dance on the poor guy's grave
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:18PM
Hate when that happens.
@10
Take your medications.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:20PM
@10- don't politicize this. seriously.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:22PM
I can confirm. It was an IBD analyst in Tech Coverage. An old colleague of mine now at Barclays told me last week. It is really tragic and the job is really not worth it. No clue as to whether or not the kid had depression problems aside from that.
Barclays definitely feels in some part pretty responsible. They've been offering a lot of workshops and 'support' from HR related to stress in the workplace, grief counseling, etc.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:22PM
This time period is stressful all around, in the elite industries as well as those lower on the food chain.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:22PM
Seriously, don't do it @10. Don't.
M.O's.P.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:23PM
@7 - go fuck yourself. Seriously.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:25PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:26PM
@17- shut the fuck up. you have no idea, so don't spew your ignorant speculation.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:27PM
@16 - Thats not very nice. Please stop. Seriously. Think about it, mmmkay, pumpkin.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:28PM
This is terribly sad.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:28PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:30PM
doing allnighters in a row can be seriously depressing.. banks should take a cue from consultants and do 360 reviews so lifestyle killing vp's and directors get slapped for it..
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:33PM
Rest in peace. He was an alumnus of my alma mater and I used to go to school with him.
Great guy, brilliant. Hard worker. No bad things can be said of him. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:34PM
Link to the obit?
Posted by Tax Chick , May 28, 2009 1:35PM
@24 - morbid bottom-feeder
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:39PM
@24- there is no obit. this is the first place it's been reported.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:40PM
Actually, there is.
http://wcbs.tributes.com/show/Gregg-Martirosian-85954016
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:46PM
@22, ibanks do 360 reviews but nobody really cares about analyst feedback unless there are looking for reasons to push out associates and VPs anyway.
Ibanks are always tough places to work; probably doubly so now that everyone lives in fear of being fired.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:47PM
How sad. RIP.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:49PM
http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/senbetfund/pdfs_docs/Brochure-SenbetFund2008.pdf
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 1:52PM
@25 - Yea I'm going to JO&C to it. Self righteous prick.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:01PM
http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/senbetfund/members/2007-08.aspx
Posted by Tax Chick , May 28, 2009 2:02PM
@31 - If you know the person, you know. If you don't know the person, what possible need do you have other than morbid curiosity. Go stuff yourself.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:04PM
At tax chick-- I don't really see what's morbid about wanting to read the obit.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:07PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:07PM
Bess - I fail to see the upside in this post.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:10PM
@35- why are comments being moderated? maybe b/c disgusting comments about a person who died are unacceptable?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:10PM
Very sad though no sadder than if he worked at Wal-Mart. Query: why is this newsworthy?
Posted by Tax Chick , May 28, 2009 2:10PM
You think reading an obit about a 23 year old who committed suicide is uplifting?
Morbid - adj. gruesome. syns. macabre.
Macabre - adj. suggestive of the horror of death.
Perhaps I should use smaller words next time. My bad.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:11PM
His name is Robert Paulson.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:12PM
Wow man, that is really sad. I feel for his family and friends. Just horrible. Im sure there are no answers just questions, I just hope it wasnt because of the job. One door closes and another one opens they say, and its not worth it. Rest in peace
Posted by wcburrs87 , May 28, 2009 2:13PM
Can't you guys just stop being dicks for one fucking post? Just read the thing, learn something, and move on. There's other places to bicker and bitch.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:15PM
@36 - The upside is we are being informed of this event. Thank you for reporting this Bess. I am just not sure why people are commenting about it...glad to see this site is frequented by some real class acts.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:16PM
fuck man, 24 years old, this is terrible
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:18PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:25PM
all the best to his family and friends, all the worst to commentors such as #45 above
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:25PM
I think what bess is trying to do is to let you know something f'ed up happened and the comments are people telling you it makes no sense to waste a life on a JOB #43. Wake up
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:29PM
@45 - that's considerate
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:30PM
#43 - For shame. For shame.
You are not worthy of M.O.P.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:33PM
@36 - Don't know what you were looking for in "upside." It's news, albeit bad, germane to the current financial crisis, and therefore to the site.
Bess and EP - thank you for deleting the more boorish comments made by some of the more extraordinary dildos.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:36PM
If you don't have anything nice to say then you shouldn't say anything in this forum.
Show some respect.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:39PM
so sad. terrible news...
Posted by girl , May 28, 2009 2:39PM
This is incredibly sad. May his family and friends find the strength to deal with their loss.
Bess is reporting this because it has to do with a community and culture of which you are all a part. How about a little introspection and a lot less negativity? This thread certainly isn't the appropriate place for it.
RIP
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:41PM
I get it 40; in death, masters of the universe get a name. His name is Robert Paulson.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 2:48PM
Man, some of the jackasses that post stupid jokes here make me remember why I left the fair Isle of Manhattan to do my own thing.
Thank you moderator. I can only imagine what was deleted, having seen some of what was allowed to remain.
Pfluger
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:00PM
Very, very sad......
Clean cut, smart, good looking kid...with a bright future....
Its tough to say what happened; his resume has 3.97 GPA and like 4 summer internships before Leh Lev Fin, then Research...he obviously new how to handle pressure.
He might have felt a perfect career track was crumbling, and it was beyond saving. A few words of advice from a caring mentor/colleague could have made a world of difference. Some colleague saw this coming apart at the seams...and looked away.
I knew a Columbia Econ. honors grad who was going down the tubes at DLJ. An MD took him aside one day, and told him he himself was fired after 6 weeks at GS. He bit the bullet, took night classes in accounting at Baruch and became the youngest MD at DLJ. That Columbia kid left DLJ, and runs a huge hedge fund today.
Support you friends, family, & colleagues.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:00PM
Did he post here?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:08PM
@56, bravo. People all need to know there is a whole world out there, if finance doesnt work out its not the end of the world, and shouldnt mean the end of a life either
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:09PM
Comment removed by moderator.
Posted by EZ2517 , May 28, 2009 3:14PM
Truly sad. As former analyst, I can relate to some of the posters concerns. Many times, analysts put up with is way too much bullshit from petty, insecure assholes on a power trip.
#45: You douche.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:16PM
I am #10
I apologize if my statements politicized this tragedy. it was in poor taste and I regret doing such without thinking.
Great words #56
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:21PM
just a tragedy, as a fellow UMD alum and former FBIS member I am deeply saddened by this news. my prayers are with his family.
Posted by girl , May 28, 2009 3:24PM
@ 60 Very true. Many people who simply lack the guts and intellect to strike out on their own end up rising through the ranks by default, taking out their medicority and bitterness on really bright kids like this one.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:35PM
@ 63 Go to hell.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:37PM
this is obviously very sad again kudos to #56 for the heartfelt words.
all of you jerk offs who think you are funny by making a witty/cruel intended post are fucking disgraceful. someone lost a brother,son,friend, ect today act like a fucking adult.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 3:45PM
@64 you are a total idiot
Posted by miami , May 28, 2009 3:47PM
I also don't see the point of this kind of post - it's just going to bring out the worst sorts of people - people who knew him already know anyway. My 2c.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:07PM
Wow, I am at loss of words.
If it's true and he had 3.97 and 4 internships under the belt after graduation, obviously he knew how to deal with pressure and stress.
My condolences to family and friends.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:07PM
I hope the dickhead that allegedly berated him has enough awareness and conscience to rein it in.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:11PM
miami@67- what's the point of this posting? perhaps because it was a terrible tragedy that shouldn't be brushed under the covers, despite the fact that yes, in life, people who suck will say shitty stuff. And perhaps it could be a wake up call to the pieces of shit like the boss who drive their underlings to the point of hopelessness.
Posted by Mike_Oxbig , May 28, 2009 4:11PM
@67, i agree.
Bess/DB staff,
Please remove this post. If you don't do it for the horrible comments of insensitive people, then at least do it for the family of this guy. If i was related to this young kid, and saw this posted on the web, I'd be more than a little upset.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:12PM
@ 66. YOu have to be kidding. @63 insulted most people that have put in times at banks and have risen up the ranks. Did you/he learn nothing from this tragic story?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:12PM
Just walked out of BarCap a few weeks ago. So sad for this kid. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:13PM
63=Cliff Asness
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:16PM
@71- No. Bad things happen. When they happen in finance, they get reported by DB, which did so in a respectful manner, even if the peanut gallery can't control itself. It seems the "moderator" has removed the most offensive comments. Which other ones would you have taken down.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:26PM
I'm gonna do some Psych 101 here. Banks love to hire driven people and part of drive is not wanting to fail at anything. Sound familiar? Problem is that on the job some failure is inevitable. In my experience when it comes, some handle it better than others. My heart goes out to his friends and family. As for the rest of us, lets try and learn from this.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:37PM
@74 how so? Maybe you should carefully re-read @63. Or do you suffer from A.D.D?
- not @63:@girl
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:40PM
@girl was saying that there are a lot of senior managers who don't understand how their berating of underlings can be damaging, such as the example in this post. What's wrong with that?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 4:58PM
Re the senior managers exerting power in a bad way. Agree totally that its damaging, but in my experience its not something that only the talentless ones do but rather part of the culture and viewed as as a rite of passage, like a fraternity hazing. A way to make a man out of you.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 5:07PM
@79- true. and sad.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 5:07PM
This #43
@47 - I was simply commenting on the sheer lack of taste, check that, human decency, it takes to make inane remarks about a complete stranger's suicide. You need to wake up fuckface.
@49
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 5:08PM
While this was a tragedy and it is nice to see the outpouring of sympathy, I find it interesting to see the complete different tone of the comments versus the ones for David Kellermann. The mean spirited comments on his death were despicable. I for one am glad to see moderators policing those who act like dolts behind the cloak of anonymity. And like someone mentioned about editing this post, maybe they should first go back to the one below?
Justsayin
http://dealbreaker.com/2009/04/david-kellerman-was-under-rele.php#comments
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 5:08PM
This #43
@47 - I was simply commenting on the sheer lack of taste, check that, human decency, it takes to make inane remarks about a complete stranger's suicide. You need to wake up fuckface.
@49 - Why for shame? Also, what is MOP?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 5:15PM
82 I agree that the different tone is very interesting. To the typical DB reader, Kellermann is viewed as a middle aged government bureaucrat, an accountant. Nothing but an impediment to the free spirited capitalism that makes America great and to which we all aspire. Why feel any sympathy? The Barclays chap however is viewed as one of us: young, dynamic, ambitious. How terrible that the system cut him down.
Posted by JorgeCad , May 28, 2009 6:18PM
My deepest sympathies towards his family. I actually worked with him. That is not to mean I knew him (I think - it was never a direct rapport), so that's not to mean I knew him or even met him however I did recieve his work.
Wall Street is a cruel place and this posting's thread proves that out.
My thoughts, whichever monster finds humour in all of this should be considered as such, a monster. Remember this stupid monster, one day your ticket will come up too.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 6:24PM
This has been happening at law firms since the layoffs started last year. Very sad.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 6:25PM
@85- who do you think found humor in this?
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 6:33PM
@56
very true - we are all hardasses etc but finance can be a ruthless place to work, compounded by lack of sleep, and sometimes a few kind words from a colleague make a big difference..
Posted by Seaman Bodine II , May 28, 2009 7:08PM
Anyone who thinks Wall Street has any pressures that even come close to the pressures felt by working stiffs with three jobs, 90 days late on the oil bill, and 5 nights in a row giving the kids mac and cheese, is beyond stupid.
Unlike the PUSSY from Freddie Mac, this guy (from what I know) didn't have kids, so it's not necessary to point out what a fucking weak thing suicide is. But falling back on the idea that the pressures of Street life are not given enough touchy feely HR style psycho-massaging is pathetic.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 7:37PM
@91
Not true. I worked three miserable jobs and lived paycheck to paycheck to pay for school. After college, I went to Wall Street.
Wall Street pressure is much worse (Lehman is one of my ex-employers, incidentally). Unless you've done both, you're in no position to compare.
The hours are so long, your job begins to overtake you and you begin to feel there is nothing else in the world - especially after a couple of all nighters. It's not very hard to become detached from reality.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:30PM
This is sad news indeed. But we really don't know why this happened. I think it's time to remove the post now. People are just getting angry with others who post here when our thoughts should be for this guy's loved ones who now have to live a life without him in it. Take a second, spare a thought.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:34PM
On DB people commonly write such comments as "Die already." It's hard to take a post like this seriously when it's on such a ridiculously snarky blog. I think in the future DB should not post such things. This is an inappropriate context, and can come off as disrespectful to the families.
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:39PM
@107- DB posts on seriously matters routinely, though generally with a humorous take. The bottom line is that this is a Wall Street blog, and this is germane to what's happening on Wall Street. When something is serious, it's treated as such by the tone of the post, like this one. And comments like "Die already" come from commenters, not the site's editors. Posts shouldn't be dictated by what some jerk off commenters put online (and DB already said last week that comments like "Die already" were not acceptable. note that the insensitive comments were removed by "moderator." guessing that when Bess/EP/moderator get to their computers tonight a few more will be deleted).
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:42PM
@107- this is a terrible tragedy that happened in the Wall Street community. Despite it being painful (as, guess what, sometimes life and the events that unfold in it are), it's news relevant to what's going on. It's not DB's fault that some commenters can't control themselves, or see that, beyond offering condolences, it could be an opportunity to see stop and think about how we're all overworked and we're all human and we should treat each other with respect, unlike the boss in question (who as a barcap employee, I can tell you did indeed ream this kid out).
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:44PM
@ 108: Just because a finance professional committed suicide, doesn't make it germane to Wall Street! What an offensive thing to say! This guy could have been severely depressed, and battling inner demons his entire life. Where do you get off saying that his suicide, which is a deeply personal matter, is relevant to Wall Street. How disgusting!
Posted by guest , May 28, 2009 8:59PM
The comments here are fucking retarded. DB should remove this post ASAP.