What do Bank of America, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley have in common? If you said they all have lost billions in absurdly risky loans, you would be right, but that’s not the answer we are looking for. We learn in the latest edition of Cavalcade of Risk, ably hosted by Jason Shafrin of Healthcare Economist, that these companies have all filled new positions entitled Chief Risk Officer (CRO). In fact, you will find that many of the companies involved in the great mortgage fiasco of 2008 are trying to mitigate future risks by hiring into these positions. It would be interesting to read the job descriptions. Being a Risk Manager is one thing; Chief Risk Officer sounds a bit more, well, exposed.
Good management teams empower everyone to focus on risk. Will CROs be able to do this? Or is the CRO just another way for senior managers to toss someone else under the bus? Only time will tell.

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