Taking & Managing Risk - Mahony Partners

Feb

2017

GM’s Brexit Excuse

It seems underperforming CEOs have a new life preserver: Brexit. Britain’s vote to leave the EU in June certainly caught companies off guard. Six months on, has Brexit begun to take a toll on profits, or is it just an excuse? GM offers an answer. (more…) Read More

Jan

2017

A Quiet End to the Financial Crisis for Moody’s

Crisis, Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

It was easy to miss the news about the $864 million legal payout by Moody’s Investors Service over its ratings of crisis-era mortgage securities. It was announced on a Friday afternoon, just as the last of the Obama Justice Department staff was cleaning out their desks to make way for the new administration. Read More

Oct

2016

Why John Stumpf Got Fired

Crisis, Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf announced his immediate retirement today. He wasn’t the first bank CEO to preside over a scandal, so why did he fall when others survived? There are four reasons. Read More

Aug

2016

Sergey Brin, Meet Bill Norris

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

Alphabet (the company formerly known as Google) reported healthy earnings a few weeks ago. Its revenue reached $21.5 billion, which included $185mm in sales from moonshot projects – investments in everything from driverless cars and solar-powered drones to genomics. But as executives discussed these ventures with investors, a faint echo from an earlier age – and an earlier entrepreneur - could be heard. It is a w... Read More

Jul

2016

The Warren Buffett-Jamie Dimon Governance Show Closes Early

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

A high powered investor group led by Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon revealed their recommendations for improving corporate governance last week. The announcement was flawless – a show to rival any Broadway opening – but the dazzling cast couldn’t make up for a weak report. But while their show closed early, the authors' clout is undiminished - and that could bring real governance reform. Read More

Jul

2016

Tearing up the History Book at Deutsche Bank

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

Cast your mind back to the year 1996. That year saw the Dow close above 6,000 for the first time. The Chicago Bulls won their fourth NBA title, and Mel Gibson's Braveheart filled theaters around the country. It was also the year when things started to go wrong for Deutsche Bank. At least that’s the view of its current chief, John Cryan. But in... Read More

Jun

2016

Facing the Future at Goldman Sachs

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

Goldman Sachs has had a string of ugly news headlines lately over its dealings with Libya’s sovereign wealth fund, its role in the collapse of a British retailer... Read More

Jun

2016

Fiddling While Wall Street Burns

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

For a business that makes its living from intermediating disruption, Wall Street is remarkably inept at dealing with its own ebbing fortunes. Just look at the recent announcements from two big banks. Read More

Jun

2016

The Princes Revolt at Credit Suisse

Crisis, Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

You almost feel sorry for Tidjane Thiam, the CEO of Credit Suisse. According to a New York Times article, he offended the firm’s princely investment bankers, apparently by speaking hars... Read More

Jan

2016

Charles Koch Steps into the Light

Taking & Managing Risk

We are just days into the New Year, but the first PR coup of 2016 belongs to Charles Koch, head of Koch Industries and the demon-mogul of Democratic candidates everywhere. Mr. Koch gave a rare interview to the Financial Times that allowed him to pitch his ideas, refute his... Read More