Alan Schwartz.jpgYou know who would be a great candidate to take over for Ken Lewis at Bank of America? Alan Schwartz. Yes, he does already have a job at Guggenheim Partners, and his nights and weekends are pretty filled trying to nail hedge funds to the wall for colluding to destroy Bear Stearns. And sure, he has his drawbacks, namely that he’s no Jimmy Cayne. But man, if we could get this guy? BAC would be set (in the event someone needs to go on CNBC and state with a straight face that the firm is awash with liquidty). The Boston Globe seriously reports:

Several former CEOs of other large banks have also been named [as possible candidates to succeed Ken Lewis]: Alan Schwartz from Bear Stearns Cos., Robert Steel from Wachovia, and Jerry Grundhofer from US Bancorp. Another top name is American Express Co. president Alfred Kelly, who is leaving the company next spring after concluding he would not become AMEX’s chief executive in the near term.

Comments (26)

  1. Posted by merkin capital partners | October 9, 2009 at 1:06 PM

    Car chase, cnn. That’s it for me. Good night.

  2. Posted by CoveredLong | October 9, 2009 at 1:06 PM

    Bess – Serious question (2part): Do you ever take offense to the massive amount of Greg bashing, and if so, do you actually like Greg?

  3. Posted by Bess Levin | October 9, 2009 at 1:08 PM

    @2 I take offense to off-topic comments left on my post. Come here focused or don’t come at all.

  4. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:10 PM

    @2 – You got knocked the fuck out!
    smokey

  5. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    I broke dis story.
    -cg

  6. Posted by NakedShort | October 9, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    Personally I would go with whoever wins The Ruins. If that wont be a big enough splash for BAC shareholders Spencer Pratt is another great option.

  7. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    I thought we agreed that telecommuting was “gay” and that we should just say “work from home.”
    - tele, uh, work from home.

  8. Posted by highlyconfident | October 9, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    He’ll always be a little dog compared to Papa Goose here… now pass me that Goddamn pack of Swishers.
    -Jimmay

  9. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    How would you describe his nose?
    Kozlowski wouldn’t do. Not after that exense memo.

  10. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    You know else would make a great CEO? Jamie Dimon.

  11. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    He looks so regal in that pic.

  12. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:27 PM

    Okay, for serious: what the fuck is with BAC board dudes/dudettes refusing to grant remote access in the 7-Eleven off Rt. 9? Hospitable environment, client-friendly, smoking is permissible (four2o), and snacks/slurpees are accessible at every whim.
    -Cheeto-Finger Beanbag Analyst (i.e., Jimmy “Puff, Puff, Give” Cayne)

  13. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:29 PM

    HBS, setting the bar: “a CEO who doesn’t understand credit is going to be at a serious disadvantage [but by no means disqualified].”

  14. Posted by CoveredLong | October 9, 2009 at 1:29 PM

    Did you hear that posters # 1, 2, 3, and 4…stay focused on BAC and why Alan Schwartz is well qualified to represent the B. A. C.
    He does have good leadership qualities…the intangibles, like, really really intangible.

  15. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:33 PM

    I thought it was conclusively established that Charlie G. took down Bear. If Schwartz thinks otherwise, I would really question his candidacy.

  16. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:36 PM

    @Bess
    Nice dodge.

  17. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    It’s amusing how these guys keep getting recylced back into the game.

  18. Posted by Elder Statesman | October 9, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    Mark me interested assuming I wouldn’t actually be expected to do anything.
    ~Bob Rubin

  19. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 1:46 PM

    mcc working it hard today

  20. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    What douche holds his chin that way?

  21. Posted by Mark Klein, MD | October 9, 2009 at 3:01 PM

    This is Outrageous!! A BAC over 4.0 would kill you. I know because I am a doctor. And I am outraged. These bankers are stealing from us again. Goldman is behind it – congresswoman Waters agrees with me.
    Vote for me for president.
    -Mark Klein, MD

  22. Posted by Mark Klein, MD | October 9, 2009 at 3:03 PM

    This is Outrageous!! A BAC over 4.0 would kill you. I know because I am a doctor. And I am outraged. These bankers are stealing from us again. Goldman is behind it – congresswoman Waters agrees with me.
    Vote for me for president.
    -Mark Klein, MD

  23. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    Bess,
    You forgot “impossible is nothing” in the tag.

  24. Posted by guest | October 9, 2009 at 4:36 PM

    @23 thanks guy from 2007

  25. Posted by Stanley | October 9, 2009 at 9:53 PM

    One day after Chaz and I had finished shredding pecs in the office, I mentioned to him some potential lateral moves for me.

  26. Posted by Guest | October 11, 2009 at 4:04 PM

    B of A needs someone who can lie with a perfectly straight face and blame everyone – the Martians, if need be – for its years of mistakes and corner-cutting. Schwartz would be perfect. Besides, he has such a bad reputation with regulators that the Bank could blame every new regulatory action on the vindictiveness of the the regulators. Schwartz is the man.

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