Customer Quote by Andrew Ross Sorkin
““Goldman’s top four officers could not sell more than 10 percent of their Goldman shares until 2011, or until Buffett sold his own, even if they left the firm. He had explained his rationale for this condition to Blankfein by saying, “If I’m buying the horse, I’m buying the jockey, too.””
About This Quote
Source Article: DealBook, Wall Street Journal, 2009
Executives were restricted from selling shares until Buffett also sold, tying their interests to his actions.
In simple terms: Executives could only sell shares when Buffett did.
Key Takeaway
Align incentives with leadership.
Themes
leadership
ethics
incentives
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
business
financial
When to use this quote
- investment decisions
- corporate governance
- stock sales
- risk management
Key Concepts
shareholder alignment
conflict of interest
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tying sales to a leader’s actions affect morale?
- Is this practice fair to all shareholders?
A Different Perspective
May limit flexibility for executives in volatile markets.
