Mack's The Name

The continuing trend in big name Wall Street retirements is...well, continuing. The latest big shot to hang up his spreadsheet six shooters and bespoke lasso is Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack. Though his name sounds better paired with Mike Jones over a sick dirty south beat than with Morgan Stanley or Credit Suisse First Boston, Mr. Mack leaves Wall Street a veteran of some of its finest and lowest points.

Back in 2001 his personal beef with then Morgan CEO Phillip Purcell led to his leaving the firm he had spent the previous 29 years with. The most notable thing he did with CSFB was groan about the Red Sox stockpiling of arms to battle his beloved Yankees and politic for the company to drop the "First Boston" from their name.

But all jokes, political intrigues (which he was known for) and conspiracy theories aside, Mack's one of the guys on Wall Street many of you non-target folks can model yourself on. The son of Lebanese immigrants, Mack landed a football scholarship to Duke and a gig clerking at a small brokerage after breaking his back. He bounced around Wall Street during a time when being a banker was nowhere near as high profile as today, landing at Stanley in 1972.

His initial gig was a simple sales role, but was the first stepping stone towards Chairman of the Board at one of the world's biggest investment banks. Mack would eventually take center stage during the financial crisis after banking over $40 million in comp in 2006.

He always remained a guy who kept his name out of the headlines and did an admirable job of keeping Morgan out of the crosshairs of both SEC inquisition and populist rage. Whether aligning with the China Investment Corporation or Mitsubishi he did what he had to do to protect his firm, much like he did what he had to do to get to the top.

For anyone hungry and lurking for their shot, his is as good a path as any to emulate and follow.