A month ago, Charlie Gasparino reported that Lloyd Blankfein’s friends had told him LB was tired of the grind and mulling over stepping down as CEO of Goldman Sachs by the end of the 2011. Goldman denied the story and reassured the world that Lloyd would be with us for many years to come. Apparently these so-called friends, like Gasparino, who said the denial was merely proof that GS was lying to him, beg to differ and have continued to tell the press Lloyd is on the way out.
Most recently these pals have spoken to the Times, which notes:
Two friends of Mr. Blankfein, 56, say he has told them since last summer that he is exhausted from leading the company through the financial crisis and that he would consider stepping down when he could do so gracefully, without the move appearing to be anything but voluntary.
Possible candidates for Blankfein’s job include current president Gary Cohn, vice-chairmen Michael Evans and Michael Sherwood, the latter of which was recently named Gary Cohn’s successor as chairman of the partnership committee, as well as “more junior candidates” like David Solomon, co-head of investment banking, David Heller and Harvey Schwartz. Should these people start considering how they’ll redecorate the executive suite just yet? Goldman Sachs says no, because Blankfein’s going nowhere.
A spokesman for the firm, Lucas van Praag, declined to comment other than to note that Mr. Blankfein “says he has never felt so energetic and has no plans to retire.”
Rumors LB will, however, entertain, are that he’s accepting applications for new friends. If you think you’re up to the grueling interview process, put in a resume today.
3 Insiders Seen As Contenders To Lead Goldman [NYT]
Related: “[I] don’t know what’s worse, GS lying when I reported the same story last month, or NYTimes for failing to credit FBN“
So if you’re finished doing God’s work and now the pitchforks and torches are after you, do you get a golden parachute or golden angel wings to get the heck out of there?
My sources tell me that I am going to be the next CEO of Goldman Sachs.
Wait… wha?
- Charlie Gasparino
Maybe that’s why Lloyd shook Raj’s hand. He was organizing his career trade.
I showed up on time for my 38th interview, in a good mood but already exhausted by the past, grueling 37 interviews. Across the huge conference table sat Lloyd Blankfein, as during the interviews before. Next to him sat Lucas van Praag, which was a new spin to the show. In the background, there was the usual entourage of underlings.
He didn’t look like he was recognising me from previous encounters. Shuffling through some papers and humming’s the theme song of M*A*SH*, he stared at me. Suddenly he stopped and asked “Imagine the two of us a standing in front of 85 Broad, waiting for a black car, when all of a sudden someone yells at me and calls me a financial king cobra rife with greed, conflicts of interest, and wrongdoing. What do you do?”
“That’s easy”, I replied immediately. “I would smack the shit out of him, and by smacking I mean whacking, and by that I mean I would wipe him off the face of the earth for you”.
He smiled. “I like your refined approach. Can you come back tomorrow?”
“No problem”, I replied and wandered out of the room, underlings fleeing before me.
To quote the great B. D. Kane, “pimpin’ ain’t easy”, and I am living proof of that fact.
-L. “In Need of a Vacation” Blankfein
Awful. Take a lap.
“A spokesman for the firm, Lucas van Praag, declined to comment other than to note that Mr. Blankfein “says he has never felt so energetic and has no plans to retire.”
“Now how about that reach-around LB?”
Fornicate yourself with a pitchfork whilst setting yourself ablaze with a torch.
blankfein face convey’s to me the absolute opposite of trust ,integrity,honesty, sympathy et al all of which may be considered prerequisite of a effective head of a major playa.
Move on . org / Senator Bernie Sanders just sent me an email saying that Citigroup got a 2.5 TRILLION dollar bailout – my sources say 45 million….which one is right? I know this is not the perfect place, but I’m sure this crowd would know.
2.5 TRILLION? Seriously? That’s enough money to write off 100% of BOA’s mortgage portfolio.
During my 39th interview, I was shown the door before I could even finish my first sentence. “Awful”, I was told, “take a lap”.
“Can I come back tomorrow?”, I asked excitedly.
“No problem”, they replied. “Just don’t expect we will open the door”.
looks like doing god’s work is very tiring and he needs a nap