Who shot Tom Davis? One minute the genial and totally blameless vice chairman of Merrill Lynch was sitting in his corner office and looking as if he didn't have a care in the world. The next he suddenly disappeared from the radar screens before you could say, "whatever happened to Herbie Allison?". Unconfirmed sightings say that someone resembling "Long Tom" was seen riding into the sunset with his saddlebag full of swag. Merrill folk barely knew of his departure. The only announcement we saw was a terse note in the Journal on May 6 which suggested that he was leaving "to focus on other personal and professional goals". What's the real story? If you believe that hogwash about focusing on other goals, you probably lie awake hoping to see the tooth fairy, and leave a mince pie and a glass of sherry out for Santa Claus by the chimney on Christmas Eve.
May 10, 2002