• 30 Mar 2011 at 10:15 AM

Great News For Morgan Stanley Shareholders

By Bess Levin

James Gorman’s poker performance indicates he’s unlikely to run the firm into the ground.

Gorman, a man who has pared risk and made Morgan Stanley a more balanced institution, seems unlikely to make the sort of big bet that either propels the firm into a new golden age — or torpedoes it. He’s a more cautious and consistent player than that. Here’s how his friend Ken Buckfire, CEO of investment bank Miller Buckfire, describes Gorman’s performance in a summer poker game that’s been going on the better part of two decades: “He’s usually up a few bucks but never the big winner.” For Morgan Stanley in 2011, that may be just the kind of approach that’s called for.

It’s unclear if the Dollar Dominatrix knew about this when she took a shiv to MS’s earnings last week.

Can James Gorman Make Morgan Stanley Great Again? [Fortune]

Comments (21)

  1. 1
    Posted by Short, But Long | March 30, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Way to go Jimmy.

  2. 2
    Posted by Guest | March 30, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    MW was just mad that JG didn’t poker face.

    -Guy who knows that was a bad joke and already pre-hung the dog leash.

  3. 3
    Posted by Guest | March 30, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    as long as you know.

  4. 4
    Posted by Guest | March 30, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Apparently the same correlation doesn’t hold for playing bridge?

  5. 5
    Posted by Guest | March 30, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Apparently the same correlation doesn’t hold for playing bridge?

  6. 6
    Posted by Anonymous | March 30, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Not if you take weeks at a time to go to bridge camp.

  7. 7
    Posted by Nosmo King | March 30, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    If this guy can only end up a few bucks ahead against the likes of Miller Buckfire then Morgan Stanley’s in trouble.

  8. 8
    Posted by JPM Coal Trading Quant | March 30, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Way to go, Jimster!

  9. 9
    Posted by Meredith_B_Hating | March 30, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    Poke poke poke her face poker face

    -guy starting the MS analyst program this summer

  10. 10
    Posted by Guest | March 30, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    And one time at bridge camp…

  11. 11
    Posted by Anonymous | March 30, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Gorman: never the bride, always the bridesmaid

  12. 12
    Posted by MS StockHolders | March 30, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    Jimmy to the G === Amateur Hour!

    Someone find an adult (preferably one who doesn’t destroy the reputation of the firm through his/her corrupt acts, e.g. Mack and Chiarello) to run this company, PLEASE!!!!

  13. 13
    Posted by MS StockHolders | March 30, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    Jimmy to the G === Amateur Hour!

    Someone find an adult (preferably one who doesn’t destroy the reputation of the firm through his/her corrupt acts, e.g. Mack and Chiarello) to run this company, PLEASE!!!!

  14. 14
    Posted by Jamie Jude | March 30, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Buckfire might be the most badass name ever.

  15. 15
    Posted by ADB | March 30, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    I prefer girl’s summer camp
    J Epsrein

  16. 16
    Posted by David Einhorn | March 30, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    I’ll be presenting our analysis of James’ skills at the next Value Investing Congress. Hint: We’re short due to the flat cash flow and future threat of inflation.

  17. 17
    Posted by Turd Furgeson | March 30, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Please see dog leash guy above. And for chissakes download everything from the Project Thunder data room and set up the goddamn folder already.

  18. 18
    Posted by TWATHAMMER | March 30, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAFUCK’EMHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  19. 19
    Posted by Kyle B | March 30, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I’m having a problem concentrating. Is there a camp for that?

  20. 20
    Posted by determinator | March 30, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    He is hot in that pic. Admit it. Dimon-level hawtness.

  21. 21
    Posted by Guest | March 31, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Keepin’ Good Numbers Jimmy

    -Thomas C

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