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The New York Times printed a resignation letter that Jake DeSantis, an executive Vice President in American International Group's financial products unit, sent to AIG CEO Edward Liddy yesterday.

I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage.

After 12 months of hard work dismantling the company — during which A.I.G. reassured us many times we would be rewarded in March 2009 — we in the financial products unit have been betrayed by A.I.G. and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials. In response to this, I will now leave the company and donate my entire post-tax retention payment to those suffering from the global economic downturn. My intent is to keep none of the money myself.

I take this action after 11 years of dedicated, honorable service to A.I.G. I can no longer effectively perform my duties in this dysfunctional environment, nor am I being paid to do so. Like you, I was asked to work for an annual salary of $1, and I agreed out of a sense of duty to the company and to the public officials who have come to its aid. Having now been let down by both, I can no longer justify spending 10, 12, 14 hours a day away from my family for the benefit of those who have let me down.

DeSantis says he received a bonus payment last week of $742,006.42.  That is after taxes.  Or at least after taxes so-far.  The taxed amount may rise if the House bill calling for a 90% tax on the bonuses becomes law.  Whatever the final amount, DeSantis he will donate it "directly to organizations that are helping people who are suffering from the global downturn."  Read the full letter here.  


Posted 03-25-2009 9:04 AM by Graham Griffith
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