From the New York Times article on the largest bank collapse in American history:
But the seizure and the deal with JPMorgan came as a shock to Washington Mutual’s board, which was kept completely in the dark: the company’s new chief executive, Alan H. Fishman, was in midair, flying from New York to Seattle at the time the deal was finally brokered, according to people briefed on the situation. Mr. Fishman, who has been on the job for less than three weeks, is eligible for $11.6 million in cash severance and will get to keep his $7.5 million signing bonus, according to an analysis by James F. Reda and Associates.
That’s right. The chief executive of WaMu is getting $19.1 million for three weeks of work. Natch. And these are the people taxpayers are supposed to be bailing out?
