The Sokol Saga: Buffett Can’t Remove “Black Mark,” Tuck’s Paul Argenti Says

Warren Buffett is perhaps the most respectable businessman in the world, with solid moral and ethical standards. I would not question his integrity or decisions making policy since he has a perfect record when it comes to business ethics. His response towards David Sokol was done out of respect to another human being. Mr. Buffett knows he could publically destroy this man with a single speech, but he does lower himself to unethical people such as David Sokol. Mr. Buffett has lawyers that will gladly lower themselves for a fee.

This analyst critical about saying Buffet wasn't ruthless enough or didn't do enough to tell Sokol what he did was wrong is inaccurate. Buffet handled the situation well. He just stated that Sokol broke the rules of Berkshire and he was let go. That is all he needs to say. Warren Buffet will keep the details of the situation in house and private within Berkshire. People also have to remember there is a lawsuit pending and possibly and SEC investigation so specific details will not be made public. I think people want to see some Jerry Springer episode of them having a fight on stage or something. Warren Buffet handled the situation well. Not sure why there is criticism surrounding how he handled the situation. People just need something to talk about.

Argenti is wrong on this. Munger had it right. Two brushes with scandal in 50 years seems like a pretty good record. Look at all the scandal and dirty dealings in other businesses, and especially in the financial industry in recent years. As a 35 years shareholder I'll stick with the way that Berkshire has been managed. Has anyone else put the shareholder's value front and center like Buffett?

Argenti and company are over hyping this affair.
Let move on...get a life!

I think Paul Argenti just wanted some tv time...

I just don't understand why. I mean, I do (he wanted to get some $$$), but when you look at the risk-return...the man didn't have that much to gain but had a lot to lose.

NO ONE cares what Agenti says even when students are stuck in his insipid class. Buffet got suckered by a scumbag. SHOCK! The USA got suckered by a criminal cabal on Wall Street that ran the USA off an economic cliff...who paid? The majority of American sheep...who remain, obese, diabetic, hypertense, uninformed, in debt and broke. Tuck this l'Agenti!

Just because Buffett has that trustworthy grandpa look doesn't mean he's not a WS crook like the rest. After all these decades, shouldn't Buffett be a better judge of character? He had the smarts to build Berkshire, and yet he got suckered by his second in command?
Someone just drew back the curtain and revealed the real 'Wizard of Omaha'

Gimmie a break. A nobody professor of communications lecturing about how Buffett wasn't ruthless enough in his language about Sokol. Maybe he should have raised his voice, huffed and puffed, and feigned shocked outrage for the simpletons who value style over substance.

What Warren said was state the truth, and be 100% accurate instead of following the idiotic advie of this "communication expert" and play games. The fact that Buffett wouldn't be in damage control and spin mode just doesn't register with these people. It's just not how the game is played by people who play games.

Buffet may be a hero to some people bit when he comes to rescue Goldman with a billion he is no hero of mine. .Sokol tried to buy Constelation Energy cheap .Bid not work. No respect from me

OFFER: 247 Paul Argenti(s) for one Warren Buffets. OBO.

Buffett paid a 30% PREMIUM for Lubrizol... he had nothing to gain.

Sokol was a snake.

I'll take Buffett at his word over a greedy lieutinant.

Hey Yahoo, why won't you allow comment on the supposed Bin Laden killing? The whole thing is just a little too scripted. Don't want anybody to challenge the image bolstering attempts of O'bama?

Good Lord... Where do people come from?

Crininal Elite Playbook series #2 ( besides dumping phantom bodies at sea )

Sell your BOGUS paper to Governments and then FLEECE the value out of the HERD of Taxpayers.

Blah, blah, blah... The Buffoon of Omaha strikes again. Businessman with virtue, my @#$%.

You are largely wrong Paul.

Sakol is doing what made Buffet a billionaire, front running his trades just like Goldman Sacs. When you know inside information, hitting a grand slam home run is easy. Kind of like going to a game park where you can drive up to your prey and shot it for a nice trophy wall mount. Why do you think Sakol told Buffet about his frontrunning buy and Buffet just shrugged okay:) the fix has always been in the works.

Is this accept Yahoo moderaters? If so please post, freedom rocks:) Free speech lives just watch what you say and how you say it.

argenti is a joke. WEB spent a considerable amount of time at the annual shareholders' meeting discussing this issue and all the facts in painful detail. he compared the issue to Solomon Brothers - inexusable and inexplicable. probably the absolute worst insult he could have delivered to Sokol was comparing it to Solomon Bros.

argenti earned his 15 seconds of by either not paying attention or simply flat out lying. WEB did not excuse it, stated he took goverance seriously (and even gave an example of a friend who went to jail thanks, in part, to information BRK provided to the SEC), and he knew exactly how much money Sokol gave up to his junior partner (ie 12.5 m; Sokol was orginally offerred $50 m and his junior partner $25; Sokol proposed to split it; thus, went from $50 m to $37.5 m - giving up $12.5 m).

WEB is the greatest guy in american business and is one of the few heros alive today. get a life argenti.

Paul Who?

Buffett's business structure and management is hands off... $HIT Happens

Insider trading is a grey area. Buffet may be better than most, but I seriously doubt that he never used what many would consider "insider information" to enrich himself. Now perhaps he never actually did a deal AGAINST his company like Sokol, but as the largest stockholder of BK, why would he?