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- <text id=93TT2440>
- <title>
- Feb. 08, 1993: Expressed Out
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1993
- Feb. 08, 1993 Cyberpunk
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- THE WEEK
- BUSINESS, Page 21
- Expressed Out
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p>Amex boss Robinson resigns shortly after winning a Pyrrhic
- victory
- </p>
- <p> Wall Street takes no prisoners these days, which James D.
- Robinson III, chairman for 15 years of American Express,
- discovered. The week began well enough when he faced down a
- timid board of directors. Some board members had sought to oust
- him, but he forced them to back down and got his protege, Harvey
- Golub, named chief executive officer. It seemed he had won the
- war over his succession, prompted by corporate missteps such as
- the acquisition of E.F. Hutton and faltering earnings. Wall
- Street, however, was not buying Robinson's triumph: in 10
- minutes following the announcement, American Express shares lost
- $700 million in value. Pressures continued to mount throughout
- the week as share prices slumped, powerful institutional
- investors expressed their anger, and three dissenting board
- members resigned. On Friday Robinson bowed out, citing "the good
- of the company" and his desire not to impede Golub's autonomy
- as CEO.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-