Bank of America (BAC) is in the midst of a frantic search for a CEO to succeed Ken Lewis, who is stepping down before the end of the year.

In an article on Bank of America's murky succession plan, USA Today buries this newsworthy factoid seven paragraphs down. From the "You can't make this stuff up" department:

BofA Chairman Walter Massey, who is leading the search, is currently on vacation on a ship and will not be reachable until Nov. 23, according to Morehouse College, where Massey is president emeritus.

According to a Wall Street Journal report (subscription required) on Monday, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is set to choose an emergency chief executive officer (CEO) -- just in case Ken Lewis (the current CEO) is forced to step down thanks to legal issues. The decision was in the works before Lewis announced he would retire effective New Year's Eve, but the situation ramped up after New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo hinted that he may file civil charges against Lewis.

Five people comprise the committee that was formed earlier this year, with Bank of America Chairman Walter Massey leading the way. The committee was originally created to respond to concerns raised by U.S. banking regulators, but it has now shifted its focus a bit. The committee will give the choice to the full board for approval, but then the U.S. banking regulators will have to approve the choice, basically allowing the government to hand pick their choice. Once this process runs its course, the plan will then be shuttered until it is needed.