People

Anshu Jain has an embarrassment of job options

8 Jun 2015

Deutsche Bank’s departing co-CEO can follow so many paths. John Thain downsized. Bob Diamond went to Africa. Huw Jenkins and Alan Schwartz took No. 2 roles elsewhere. John Mack got techie. Jes Staley turned hedgie. And then there’s the Stan O’Neal and Ken Lewis option. Bow out.

Wal-Mart pits nepotism against experience

5 Jun 2015

The $240 bln retailer is replacing Chairman Rob Walton with his son-in-law. That’ll rile investors pushing for independent oversight. Greg Penner has a solid business background – and the family owns half the company. But Penner needs to prove he can get Wal-Mart back on track.

Match-fit FIFA would give players, fans more ball

2 Jun 2015

Sepp Blatter has resigned as the besmirched president of soccer’s governing body. Needed reform is now unavoidable. FIFA’s best strategy would be to embrace it by enfranchising the beneficial owners of the sport: the players and the fans. It would also usher in better governance.

SoftBank’s next boss more symbol than succession

12 May 2015

Chairman Masayoshi Son has no plans to retire but has named ex-Google executive Nikesh Arora as his likely successor. Appointing a foreigner to the role may be mainly a way for SoftBank to gild its international credentials, but the gesture is still a valuable one.

Alibaba generation shift treats investors as kids

8 May 2015

The e-commerce group is swapping its chief executive for a younger insider. The plan was drawn up before the company’s IPO. Yet Alibaba has offered no explanation. Founder Jack Ma wants to promote young leaders, but investors deserve adult answers on who makes decisions and why.

Obama’s recess appointment endangers recovery

4 Jan 2012

The president is bypassing Congress to install the first chief of the new consumer financial watchdog. The move shatters Obama’s already fragile relationship with Republicans. A full extension of the payroll tax cut is now unlikely, which imperils the economy’s shaky progress.