Will Goldman Sachs's CEO Appear On Oprah? It's Been Discussed

Instead of another politically-charged appearance before Congress, some at Goldman Sachs are suggesting that CEO Lloyd Blankfein make a visit to Oprah's couch, Dow Jones Newswires reported yesterday.

This idea was likely not the brainchild of famously caustic PR chief Lucas Van Praag, who was dubbed the bank's "Rococo Prince" by the New York Observer. According to Dow Jones, Fiona Laffan, the bank's the head of media relations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said at a recent industry event that the bank is mulling a large ad campaign to improve its image. That PR blitz could include a visit to Oprah. Here's Dow Jones: "We are thinking of advertising" for the first time, she said. "There are people [in the bank] who think we should go on 'Oprah.' I'm not one of them."

At Dealbreaker, Bess Levin has asked the site's readers to get this meeting to happen: "We need Lloyd jumping in a couch. We need him passing out the ridiculous gifts audience members receive. And we'll do whatever it takes to make this happen. And I do mean anything."

Praag, Goldman's chief PR rep, told Levin that the bank has no plans have executives appear on the show. The New York Post spoke to other unnamed Goldman sources who said there is no Oprah appearance in the offing -- but they confirmed the bank is actively working on an image makeover.

(Check out the full article at Dow Jones here.)

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Should Goldman Sachs's CEO Appear On Oprah?

Yes, it can't hurt Goldman's already sullied image.

No, the bank should just keep quiet and continue raking in profits.

Oprah's interview questions are probably more frightening to Goldman Sachs than the financial reform bill.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

06:14 PM on 06/24/2010

Clearly not. That's because Lloyd Blankfein is on the verge of being too sexy to work for Goldman Sachs. It might actually get him fired.

[ecrichert12]

03:14 PM on 06/23/2010

why waste his time? Goldman's customers aren't watching Oprah.

You can complain all you want, you probably arent a GS customer anyway, so they cant and shouldn't care what you think.

[darkday]

04:41 PM on 06/23/2010

You'd be surprised at the range of people who watch Oprah. It's the number one talk show in all of America.

[ecrichert12]

10:13 PM on 06/23/2010

If you run a PE, VC, or hedge fund you dont pick a broker based on who was on oprah - you make it based on which platform is several thousandths of a second quicker and gets you a better end of the bid-ask spread. If you're an institution trying to raise capital, you're looking for better terms, not better interviews on Oprah.

So no, I wouldn't be 'surprised' - nor would goldman. They do just fine because their clients care about performance alone.

[napasonoma]

06:33 PM on 06/24/2010

Surprise me. Could it be couch potatoes who are watching TV in the middle of the afternoon because they don't have a life and their IQ is lower than their age..
Or, could it be grad students working on their second PHD who are researching an astrophysics problem?

[steppenwolfsayshi]

02:34 PM on 06/23/2010

Did any else catch the giving out gifts reference? It's like Rockefeller handing out dimes to strangers on the street to improve his image. Disgusting. I can't be bought with dimes. He better give me a bloody McLaren.

[steppenwolfsayshi]

02:26 PM on 06/23/2010

Please guys, do remember to lie on any and all questions posed by Goldman Sachs PR team. Do you really want them to have good PR? Really? Is that what you want? Smack yourselves.

[okiedemocrat]

01:19 PM on 06/23/2010

Where will they find a room large enough to hold both Oprah and Blankfein's egos?

[darkday]

01:29 PM on 06/23/2010

Maybe you can lend them your bedroom to tape from?

[jaslyn]

11:48 AM on 06/23/2010

no. Oprah asks soft ball questions and gives guests a platform to just push their own agenda. (for example, Sarah Palin)

[robjh1]

11:47 AM on 06/23/2010

Media rumor mill. What does he have to say on Oprah? Discuss baking?

[lotusgirl]

11:38 AM on 06/23/2010

I'm reading The Big Short right now. The stupidity and criminal actions are dispicable.

These people are criminals and need to be charged. At the very least, they should receive a head smack and a sharp kick in the butt.

[azhermit]

11:38 AM on 06/23/2010

i wouldn't stand to close to this ashkenazi... the smell of sulphur is overwhelming.

[steppenwolfsayshi]

02:29 PM on 06/23/2010

That's really offensive. I'm sorry, but I flagged you. I hope others do the same.

[rjlwis]

11:30 AM on 06/23/2010

Oh great! One gazillionaire interviewing another gazillionaire...I'd rather watch pro wrestling. At least that is real!

[saranaghati]

11:28 AM on 06/23/2010

That would be so great- oh how the mighty have fallen.

[Craig2]

11:22 AM on 06/23/2010

Is that "Doing God's Work" Lloyd Blankfein? Oprah needs to ask him about jobs. Where are the jobs?

[eddiefi]

11:22 AM on 06/23/2010

Oprah Who?

[darkday]

12:59 PM on 06/23/2010

Oprah Winfrey. Duh! Have you been living under a rock the last quarter century? Moron.

[eddiefi]

12:50 AM on 06/25/2010

Well you just showed your intelligence or severe lack of I guess I should say! Of course I know who Oprah Winfrey is. What my remark meant was that she is not the influential person she was 5-6 years ago. I notice from your posts that you love Oprah. She is another go with the flow and not make any waves to disrupt her flow of money into her bank account. Instead of using her show to help out the President she chose to do nothing to help explain his policies to the people she influences. She is just like the rest of the wealthy in this country and will do nothing to stop the flow of money she wants and MORONS like you just keep sending your money to her. Duh!

[SweetestTaboo]

11:21 AM on 06/23/2010

Blankf00l could take a lesson from Oprah in terms of giving away. Oprah just gave her entire staff at O magazine $10K and an iPad. Blankf00l's motto for giving away is

One for you and two for me
None for you and three for me
None for you and four for me

[ecrichert12]

08:55 AM on 06/25/2010

Blankfein rewards his staff as well as anyone in the business - both in terms of money and in non financial comp (new building, best gym in the city, financial management services, multiple corporate relationships, etc.)

[Addy Sul]

01:22 PM on 06/25/2010

Is it Blankfein who recently rewarded his staff or the tax payer bailout?

[Tristan9]

11:21 AM on 06/23/2010

And after he is arrested on Oprah, bring his Rabbi out, the one who bar mitvahed him 42 years ago. Ask the Rabbi why he never taught Llyod the difference between stealing and making an honest living. Then ask the Rabbi if he is willing to excommunicate this shyster from the American Jewish community. I would appreciate that being a Jew myself. Its high time some of the Rabbis who have been receiving huge charity windfalls from these crooks refuse the money and denounce the sociopaths in their midst.