This Wall Street Journal (subscription required) blurb says it all: "A BofA director has quit and more resignations are expected as the company seeks to remake its board with bank and finance experts."
Aha! What a novel idea!
One of the largest banks in the world has decided that maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to put people on its board of directors who are experts in the world of banking. This is a perfect example of the corporate governance breakdown that drove Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) to its current state -- and a great example of why CEO Ken Lewis and every other member of the company's board of directors should be kicked out as a condition of the billions in bailout money the company has received.
In addition, there need to be congressional hearings to try to understand why the institutional shareholders who had a fiduciary responsibility to their investors allowed this company to function with a grossly unqualified board of directors for so long -- a university president, a recently retired general, and a newspaper publisher are the wrong people to have overseeing the management of a bank mortgaging its future on esoteric securities and overvalued acquisitions.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-31-2009 @ 5:07PM
t said...
Sorry but almost every board of directors in every industry is made up largely of people who have no specific knowledge of the industry. I don't agree with the concept. However, in most cases, they have a genius at the helm to control the board. In our case, we have Ken Lewis. You need to chill out because BAC is going to be stronger than ever.
6-01-2009 @ 2:06AM
sitruc said...
+1
You don't expect a site like this to know anything about business, do you t? How's AOL doing?
6-01-2009 @ 7:29AM
Gordon Rouston said...
Competent people, no such thing. Listening to or adhering to any advise from these inept, greedy, self serving so called experts in finance is analgous to asking the thief where to hide your money.
6-30-2009 @ 12:19AM
Rich said...
An Open Letter to the Remains of Countrywide
Dear Countrywide / Bank of America, and whom it may concern:
I have received numerous calls from what I believe to be India. It would appear that these are computer dialed as there is no one on the other side, and when they finally come through they are unable to hear me (I believe this practice is illegal in California, but maybe in India it’s not a problem). Quit bothering me! I’ve tried to talk to you for 6 months. I’ve lost 18% of my pay and have spent an ungodly amount of money combating my depression. I have spent so many hours on the phone, it is ridiculous. I have spoken to Mike Drawdy, John Cupples, Bank of New York’s Michael Cherchil with prodding from John Cupples who compared me buying this simple townhouse to buying a Ferrari, I’ve called the Home Retention Department, HOPE, HUD, spoke with Marisa at 888.219.7713, Ron Welty at 972.608.1425, Kim Lowe, Teresa Crockett and Jennifer Gunter (because Jill_Ballentine was to busy to speak to regular people) at 916.446.7100. I’ve spoken to Dan Harp at 909.387-6708 and the Inland Empire housing mediation board at 909-984-2254 and Inland Valleys Fair Housing. I spoke with House Assessor Harlowe Camron at 909.387.6730. I spoke to Rose-Marie at Making Home Affordable. I was advised to go to www.financialstability.gov (which I did). I got a number for free counseling 900.569.4287. Nobody could help me because I make all of my payments. I spoke with John Chung at 916-445-2636 from the California Department of Finance. Mark Howard Case Worker at 415-403-0100. The office of Senator Barbara Boxer at 800.225.5342.
I have been told that “THe programs were designed for people that aren’t making their payments.”
I have worked with hardship and the work out group and been turned down by both. I was told I basically had the option to short sale or lose the property. I have also been told that property values will go back because they always have. “What part of I can’t afford this with my cut in salary, no opportunity for bonus, and no raises. In addition my illness that has just about consumed me and my family as well as depleted our credit cards.” Roystin Fernandes at your extension 4312 seemed the most ready to help, but that went no where. I also spoke with Keith and Sara by calling 800-669-6607 and Anna Kisner employee # 185401 ext. 9663. I have loans 137303750 and 137303758. I would like to work together with someone for a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. If you’re not interested, you already damaged my 780 FICO by sitting on your hands and ignoring me for 6 months. This is the first month that I have missed a payment ever. I don’t foresee being able to ever catch up on the payments of this house that is worth about a third of what I paid for it.
I listed it on Zillow awhile back. it looks pretty ridiculous next to surrounding homes. Gas is more expensive, food is more expensive, my medical costs are outrageous. Just give me a heads up when you’re going to throw me out on the street with my wife and 3 kids. I tried my hardest to work something out. YOU DON’T WANT TO MAKE ANYBODY’S HOME AFFORDABLE. I should have given up a long time ago. It’s so hard to tell my wife and kids no to everything for the last year and a half.
I am copying other elected representatives that have done a poor job in overseeing your industry and turning me into 1/4 of what I was. I’m sick to my stomach.
DO NOT CALL ME unless you have the ability to work out a deed in lieu of foreclosure or find someone to shortsale my house to. Otherwise leave me alone. I had 5 hang up calls from your company 5 times today on my work phone.
Countrywide / KB Homes were in a dual partnership to destroy the housing market in this area. Of this I am convinced.
Send me a letter where to mail the keys or continue to ignore me as you have up until today. I have a great dislike for your company and no longer believe in the American Dream.
Leave me alone,
Rich Udell
P.S. Countrywide congratulations on your bankruptcy! I applaud you along with major banks and auto manufacturers. If you don’t work with the middle class it will get much worse before this ever bottoms out. The Great Depression was nothing. Keep it up