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Morgan Stanley CEO Feels Heat

Posted Dec 20, 07 11:37 AM CST in Business 

(Newser) – When John Mack became Morgan Stanley’s CEO in 2005, he told the company to take more risks. “You’ve lost your swagger,” he told his traders. Now, after several questionable moves and yesterday's staggering $9.4 billion writedown, swagger isn’t looking so hot—and Mack could be sent packing, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Mack ruffled feathers by propping up unpopular co-president Zoe Cruz, then helmed two ill-fated acquisitions—credit card company Goldfish, which was immediately written down, and subprime firm Saxon Capital. “He’s a chronic destroyer of value,” said one former Morgan Stanley analyst. But Mack has friends, and can point to some successes. “I think he has the confidence of the troops,” another analyst said.

Source Wall Street Journal

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A man enters the Morgan Stanley building on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007 in New York. The No. 2 U.S. investment bank on Wednesday reported a fourth-quarter loss due to a $9.4 billion writedown from its exposure...   (Associated Press)
John Mack, CEO of Morgan Stanley, attends the Committee of 100 Conference in this April 20, 2007 file photo in New York. "Deeply disappointing" fourth-quarter writedowns have Morgan Stanley Chief Executive...   (Associated Press)
John Mack, CEO of Morgan Stanley, attends the Committee of 100 Conference in this file photo from April 20, 2007 in New York. "Deeply disappointing" fourth-quarter writedowns have Morgan Stanley Chief...   (Associated Press)
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