• May 26, 2012

New AIG CEO Is, Naturally, A Lazy Douche

by Jim Newell  

America’s greatest company, AIG, has a new CEO! How should he introduce himself to the American public, which has like an 80 percent stake in his company, but doesn’t really “own” it? As an industrious servant of the common man, of course! And that he does, in his big “debut” interview, with Reuters: “DUBROVNIK, Croatia (Reuters)—Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt, the new chief executive of bailed-out insurer American International Group (AIG) says he’s getting a lot of work done from his massive villa overlooking the Adriatic. ‘People criticize me for being on vacation. I actually started work a week before I was actually supposed to,’ Robert Benmosche told Reuters in an interview.” Good lord. Things must be just stable enough now that these robberbarons don’t have to give a shit anymore about presenting themselves through shiny, remorseful PR channels. [Reuters]

{ 34 comments }

zhubajie August 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm

A villa on the Adriatic? Sort of like Diocletian’s retirement villa?

Although I doubt any US exec would have 1/10 the taste of Diocletian.

Smoke Filled Roommate August 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm

“Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt” translation: asshole

AbstinenceOnly Ed August 27, 2009 at 5:56 pm

“Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt, [trailed by somber train of androgynous prepubescent sex slaves carrying bowls of exotic liqueurs and platters arrayed with succulent sweet meats, fruits, and rich chocolates]…”

Fixed.

x111e7thst August 27, 2009 at 6:00 pm

[re=396869]zhubajie[/re]: “Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt”. He clearly does not have 1/100 the taste of Diocletian.

King of the Dipshits August 27, 2009 at 6:04 pm

I don’t suppose there is anyway to convince the people of Dubrovnik that “Benmosche” is a good Serbian name?

Maus August 27, 2009 at 6:04 pm

“I actually started work a week before I was actually supposed to,”

Lord knows I’d delay moving into my massive villa overlooking the Adriatic for AS LONG AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

PrairiePossum August 27, 2009 at 6:05 pm

“Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt”

Without his big bonus, he must shop the Wal-mart clearance bin for work clothes.

The Station Manager August 27, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Is it wrong that I misread “Robberbarons” as “Rollerbarons”? And got totally stoked on it?

slappypaddy August 27, 2009 at 6:10 pm

he wants to be closer to his personal private bank accounts. he haz a nervous.

ShamWow August 27, 2009 at 6:13 pm

“Every bathroom is like a piece of art,” he said while showing off his master bathroom with his wife, Denise. “Women go wild when they walk in here.”

I have no words.

rocktonsammy August 27, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Dear Teddy,

Tell God to kill this guy.

rocktonsammy August 27, 2009 at 6:24 pm

[re=396901]rocktonsammy[/re]: before his wife does

Citizen Kang August 27, 2009 at 6:27 pm

I met Bob when I worked in Newport Beach and he did a townhall for the benefit of his minions. Back then the hot gossip was he was having relations his head of HR (which was the position she attained, coincidentally I’m sure, after she and Bob started making the beast with two backs). I hear she was listed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world which, all things considered, is the least they could give her for her service. At the time it made me wonder what kind of title and perks I’d get for boning Bob. Since I’m a straight male I don’t think I’m his type…

drrty martini August 27, 2009 at 6:28 pm

[re=396869]zhubajie[/re]: Or any skill at raising cabbages.

Guppy06 August 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm

[re=396890]slappypaddy[/re]: The UBS thing has him shook up.

god.was.stingy August 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm

[re=396880]King of the Dipshits[/re]: Not even necessary. Just tell ‘em he used their backyard barbecue pit without asking. Mofos will go all Mostar on his ass.

widget09 August 27, 2009 at 6:46 pm

“When you come here, all of a sudden you appreciate the world you live in,” he said.

As if this asshole didn’t have enough earthly goods, he had to come out of retirement to go on vacation for some ungodly amount of money.

Mr Blifil August 27, 2009 at 6:51 pm

“We have the ability. I know that I am telling people we are allowed to,” he said. “What I don’t know is if people (employees) are willing to. A lot of them feel hurt, embarrassed, a lot of people have lived in fear because of what I call lynch mobs with pitchforks.”

Then later he whines some shit about taking his kids out the side door or something because people were hollering meannesses at him. Or whatev.

Check it out:

“People think it is funny but it is not when it is your children,” he continued, his voice rising in anger. “It is not when you come home and you find people in front of your home and you had to sneak your children out in the middle of the night so that they are not attacked in a country called America.”

Dood, who the fuck was going to attack your children? It’s YOU to whose balls I want to attach electrodes. I hope the serfs in Croatia someday decide to rise up and put you through a Walpurgisnacht out of Sam Peckinpah.

One Yield Regular August 27, 2009 at 6:57 pm

“AIG’s vacation villa in Croatia – helping to lead the way to a brighter future not only for our children, but for our children’s children.”

Marquis de Villers-St-Paul August 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm

But that town is beautiful beyond imagination. Mr. Benmosche clearly is capable of making smart decisions. Your money is safe with him.

villageatrois August 27, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Now I know where I’ve seen that picture. It was on the cover of Frank Zappa’s “Thingfish”.

Bruno August 27, 2009 at 7:23 pm

So AIG selected a Yugoslavian supervillian to be its CEO? I will only be impressed if he has an underground lair or henchmen

schvitzatura August 27, 2009 at 7:28 pm

Bob couldn’t have picked a better place to live. His Ustaše Chetnik neighbors are sooo happy…

Jukesgrrl August 27, 2009 at 7:45 pm

[re=396882]PrairiePossum[/re]: “Without his big bonus, he must shop the Wal-mart clearance bin for work clothes.”

No, believe me when I say these khakis, golf shirts, and flip-flops all come with Ralph Lauren Polo and/or Gucci logos. It’s the uniform of the Corporatti-at-Leisure. I see it every day in Arizona. His sunglasses cost more than I make in a week. What I really resent is these pigs ruining beautiful Dubrovnik.

desertwind August 27, 2009 at 8:27 pm

I must say that his last pronouncement gives me the upper most confidence that we’re out of the woods and on our way. Wow! I say.

Wow.

“A year from now, Benmosche said he hopes to wow people with AIG’s performance.

“‘I think we will be clear as to what the vision is, what the reality of that vision is. We’ll have a better sense of what our strategic companies will be worth, and what the marketplace will be worth, and people will say, wow, AIG is performing well,’ he said.”

donner_froh August 27, 2009 at 9:48 pm

The most reviled company in the world being run by a CEO five time zones away from headquarters who gets massages every day and wows the ladies with the mirrors in his 12 bathrooms–if that is not a sign of economic recovery then nothing is.

the problem child August 27, 2009 at 10:39 pm

Albanian terrorists FTW!

slappypaddy August 27, 2009 at 11:19 pm

[re=396901]rocktonsammy[/re]: god is a short, black, jewish woman, and she is not to be fucked with.

“And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons: The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord…. Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.”

— 2nd Esdras (4th Ezra), 47-48, 53

hobospacejunkie August 28, 2009 at 12:32 am

[re=396934]Mr Blifil[/re]: I am actually one of those people who actually think it’s funny that he actually had to actually sneak his kids out of his house. Actually.

Joanie love lots of Chachi August 28, 2009 at 1:19 am

I worked w/Bob in another life. Despite the rumors, etc, he’s a smart, likeable guy (who can be a real hard-ass) and he didn’t have to come out of retirement. Compared to his past salaries, he’s working for chump-change over at AIG and I wish him well. These kind of guys live for the challenge.

BTW, my politics are very progressive, lest anyone think I’m a plant from the nutjobs GOP douche-bags (has anyone actually ever seen an old-fashioned douche-bag?)

LoweredPeninsula August 28, 2009 at 4:36 am

[re=396913]Citizen Kang[/re]: Since I’m a straight male I don’t think I’m his type…

You don’t know these alpha male types, then. It’s all about control; they’ll fuck anything that they can control if they think they can get away with it, male/female, animal/human animate and otherwise.

mitch42 August 28, 2009 at 11:40 am

I was going to ignorantly say “Hey, give him a break. He’s vacationing in _Croatia_!” Ha ha!

Then I read about the vineyard, the 12 bathrooms, blah blah blah… and his $3 mil cash plus $4 mil stock plus $3.5 mil bonus salary.

Fuck. I thought this recession was going to be a realignment of these kind of disparities in salary. Nope. That’s just my naivete again.

NebraskashireGentry August 28, 2009 at 1:29 pm

“actually” is what “literally” was a few years ago…

meyotch August 29, 2009 at 6:45 am

[re=397035]Joanie love lots of Chachi[/re]: Seriously? This is all you have? Chump change? I know I’m very late on this thread, but I tasted my reaction to your comment.

Blech. There are more worthy challenges if someone who is well-connected, who doesn’t *have* to work, wants a reason to leave the house in the morning. Honestly, how big is your dick anyway?

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