How a misunderstanding led to a former CIA programmer gettin

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How a misunderstanding led to a former CIA programmer gettin

Postby admin » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:52 am

How a misunderstanding led to a former CIA programmer getting the top job at Steve Cohen’s investment fund
by Prashanth Perumal
Dec. 6, 2016

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Doug Haynes, president of Point72 Asset Management, didn't have his sights set on a career in the hedge fund business.

But that's where he ended after a call from legendary money manager Steven Cohen in late-2013.

In a recent interview with Skiddy von Stade of OneWire, Haynes explained his career transition from mechanical engineering to programming for the CIA, and then into McKinsey before eventually ending up at Point72.

"If you have a career in consulting, there's an age by which if you don't retire from being a consultant, you will retire as a consultant," Haynes said. "Once you pass a certain tenure, it doesn't make sense to leave the profession, you don't have enough runway left to go do something else and build that new set of skills."

Haynes, after considering retirement twice, finally took the decision to retire from the firm.

"I decided I'm gonna make the jump. A couple of my friends had done so and were very happy and I just felt like it was right for me, so I retired."

At the time, Steve Cohen had just closed down his hedge fund SAC Capital following an insider trading investigation, and launched Point72, a family office. He called Haynes just before Christmas in 2013, asking him to put together a McKinsey team. Cohen hadn't heard about Haynes' retirement.

"He says 'I need you to put together a McKinsey team,' and I said 'Tell me about it.' He says 'We've exited all of our outside capital, and we've had a bunch of change, and downsized the firm. We've made all these big changes, and we really need to reset the firm. I want a new strategy,'" Haynes recalled.

"I said that is a great idea. It would be an even better idea if I hadn't retired six weeks ago," he replied.

In the end, Cohen asked him to join the firm as an adviser.

"We had an explicit agreement that I would do that between six and 12 months, whatever [time] it took to get a strategy in place and [then] I would go on to do whatever it is that I was going to do next."

Haynes joined the firm as managing director of human capital in February 2014, but became Point72's president six months later. "I came as the head of human capital but pretty quickly that mandate spread to touch a lot of different aspects of the firm, and then six months later [Cohen] ends up offering me the opportunity to be president."
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Re: How a misunderstanding led to a former CIA programmer ge

Postby admin » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:54 am

CIA pays McKinsey 10 million in fees for reorganisation
by Consultancy.uk
11 August 2015

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In a bid to improve the organisation of the CIA the foreign intelligence arm of the US has brought in the expertise of McKinsey & Company. The move comes with a hefty price tag, reportedly $10 million, and involves a broad range of strategy and management consultancy services. While the board stresses a third party perspective is needed, internal pundits are questioning the value of the money spent.

The CIA is about to enter into one of its most ambitious restructuring exercises in its history. In March Director John O. Brennan unveiled the blueprint, and the plan is set to have a massive impact on the organisation structure of the major directorates of espionage and analysis, which have been part of the agencies structure for decades. In its new model the agency will create a hybrid unit that combines analysts and operators in centres which are focused on specific regions, such as the Middle East, as well as on security issues including weapons proliferation. The new approach is modelled on the success of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Centre, which has enjoyed considerable influence since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

To realise the wide scale restructuring, the agency hired consultants from McKinsey & Company, an advisory firm renown for managing the corporate restructuring of large and complex organisations.

Costing the restructure

As part of the restructuring effort the CIA has asked a number of departments to give up a portion of their budget to cover the costs associated with the transformation. Departments have though found it challenging to release the funds, and against the backdrop of the $10 million in fees the consultants are set to charge, cynicism at the investment in the advice of McKinsey & Company has been expressed by legislators on Capitol Hill.

Not only those on the Hill are concerned about the cost of McKinsey’s services contract, staff at the agency have also expressed their surprise at the fact that the costs have not been disclosed earlier by Brennan in his announcement of changes at the agency. “What is the rationale?” asked an official familiar with the contract. “When you’re talking about millions and millions of dollars, there ought to be a reason why the money is being spent.” According to some, the services could just as easily be provided through in-house expertise.

While the value of the contract is a drop in the ocean of the CIAs budget, which tops $12 billion, the deal is also one of the most costly the agency has been involved with in the matter of rearrangement. A spokesmen for the agency, Dean Boyd, said however that they will be “implementing this plan within our existing budget and without seeking additional funds from Congress.” A spokesperson for McKinsey declined to comment about the deal.

Outside perspective

With the expense seen by many as frivolous, the question of why the restructuring effort is being made with outside intelligence has been posed by a number of officials. According to advocates of McKinsey’s role, the introduction of a third party perspective is key to break through the culture of resistance to change experienced within the agency. The CIA has had a number of reorganisation in recent years, and many of those have not realised their planned potential, with a culture of conservatism and being a stick in the mud within old structures as reasons cited for the mixed track record.

“It’s probably a good thing to bring in outside perspective at a time when you’re doing something this challenging,” says a former senior US intelligence official. He adds, “there is a scepticism and cynicism toward spending money on anything except mission.” Another former employee says that “this place is famous for doing a rope-a-dope. By bringing in McKinsey, [Brennan’s] got an independent overseer not only to drive the process but report back the results.”
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Re: How a misunderstanding led to a former CIA programmer ge

Postby admin » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:59 am

Meander: Wooing Ms. Maudie (Excerpt)
by Blayney Colmore

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"I really know very little about that." Oscar wasn’t being totally forthright, but in truth he hadn’t quite figured out what to make of Maudie’s future in her father’s government. He often wished he knew more. He’d been present when her father spoke with her about being the future President. Oscar had wondered how much it was wishful thinking, or whether he could actually make it happen. "I suspect you people at McKinsey may know a lot more about that than I do."

"We only know what we read in the papers." Oscar, despite being a novice in this international world of covert information, understood Gretchen Mallory had just told him a lie. It was common knowledge at Wharton that McKinsey provided major cover for CIA operatives all over the world. That was one reason all those young sharks would love to have a job there. Gretchen clearly possessed a lot more information that what she read in the papers.

***

Oscar was haunted by mental replays of that conversation with Gretchen. It was the closest she came to saying outright that he was being hired to spy on his client. [Christ, wouldn’t you think McKinsey might want to make their CIA shadow just a little less obvious?] Now, whenever anyone referred to “land reform,” he heard an echo of Gretchen’s caustic voice. It made Oscar’s stomach turn over.

***

"Maudie, do you have any doubts about Oscar’s being dependably loyal to us, to our interests in these matters, not a stooge for the IMF or any of those other agencies that get their hooks into every IMF matter -- the CIA and their cronies?"

[This conversation doesn’t feel so cozy anymore.] "Father, you were the one who pushed to put Oscar in that position. I’ve never had any reason to doubt his integrity. Have you?"

"Well, no, not really, but he is an American, and he was recruited by McKinsey. And we both are aware that McKinsey is well known for making their people available for clandestine work. And Minister Baunda is, after all, Ndebele, from Bulawayo, and ZAPU."

***

Oscar’s encrypted conversations with Gretchen Mallory at McKinsey [are they really secure?] erased any lingering doubts he may once have had about her being under cover CIA [not very damn far undercover]. And a stooge for the IMF. "The IMF is pressing very hard on this, Oscar, she told him." Oscar knew they would insist on getting him alone to pump hi for what he knew about the reliability of the numbers. That’s what he had been sent to do; how could he play dumb? Why would he ever consider it? [Who am I pimping for here?]

***

"Give it a rest, Oscar. You know better. The president’s deputy and daughter living with a white American who also just happens to be here working for McKinsey, the American consulting firm that has been linked to the IMF, not to mention the CIA. Now there’s a formula for a bright political future."

***

When Oscar spoke with Minister Baunda [is he really my boss, or is he standing in for others? And which others? Mugabe? CIA? McKinsey?] about taking off for a few days and going to the Falls, Baunda seemed pleased that Oscar wanted to go see one of the country’s most celebrated spots.

***

"Oh, Oscar," Maudie rolled over against him, running her finger along his eyebrows. "I guess you’re just going to have to call it as you see it. I see no reason you need to get all worked up about this. You came here to help Minister Baunda, not to feed information to McKinsey or the CIA."

"Now who’s being the dreamer, Maudie? You know as well as I do that McKinsey, and whoever they may be in bed with, the CIA, the IMF, UNICEF – whoever – are not going to be satisfied with some perfunctory report from me. They’re looking for substance, reassurance that this country is being governed by people who know what they’re doing, and aren’t just feathering their own nests. We’re talking billions of dollars here. You think they’ll buy my pleading ignorance or being vague?"

***

"Oscar," something about the way she spoke his name cut through Oscar’s fog; he came alert. "In a couple of minutes we’re going to be joined by two men who are interested in McKinsey’s work in Zimbabwe. I’m not going to play games with you; Ethan Pinsky is CIA, not undercover, and Jim Newmark is with the IMF, responsible for servicing their Zimbabwe loans."

***

"You’ve no doubt heard that McKinsey has a relationship with various agencies of the U.S. Government. It’s as much informal as contractual, but we try to be good citizens, especially in those areas where the government’s limited resources make it difficult for them to get the information needed for making good decisions. And, God knows, our Africa intelligence is pitiful."

[Right]. Oscar was feeling testy. [Don’t let it show, Buddy! Now, there’s some corporate arrogance; McKinsey has better access and deeper pockets than Uncle Sam? Give me a break, Gretchen.]

***

Gretchen’s voice lowered an octave to a warm, intimate tone, and she took a step toward him. "You’re pretty exhausted from your long trip, and I wouldn’t blame you if you were feeling a little uncomfortable about all this. I want you to know we aren’t in the habit of sandbagging our consultants with clandestine assignments, and we aren’t going to do that to you. All we’re doing is asking you to listen to what they have to say, and then tell us whether you’re comfortable taking a modest piece of the action. Most of all we want you to be clear that it mustn’t compromise the contract McKinsey has with the primary client, in this case the Zimbabwe Finance Ministry and Minister Baunda."

Oscar’s thoughts were racing: [Oh, right, Gretchen. You’re trying to tell me that there’s some way I can sign on with the CIA and not sully my relationship with the people I’m supposedly working for, but really I’m spying on?]

***

[Others? Did I tell her there were others? Oh yeah, in the phone call.] "I really do need to talk about that, Maudie, but it feels incredibly awkward to me. I mean those other two guys in the room were from the CIA and the IMF. Just as you guessed. Like maybe you already knew.” Oscar waited, watching her for a reaction. Her face was impassive, Shona expressionless. He knew she would outwait him.

“I mean, they didn’t exactly give me a license to kill or anything, but just the fact that those two guys showed up at the meeting spooked the hell out of me.”

“Now, Oscar, you’re a grown man. Your father’s in international affairs. And now so are you. When you signed on with McKinsey to do this job with Minister Baunda, did it never occur to you that they might want you to do something more complex than crunch numbers, something with a little more intrigue? Did it ever occur to you that there are countless Zimbabweans with accounting skills? And that you bring access you can’t buy in a Zimbabwean? Did that never occur to you?”

***

“Oscar, we’d like you to take this back with you.” Pinksy reached into his attaché case pulling out a small black plastic holder that looked like it might hold a pen or a tiny paint brush. He pulled the ends apart revealing a numerical pad and screen that glowed green. [This meeting’s prize. Fly half way around the world; get a new toy.]. “This is our latest secure phone, just delivered. It runs off our own satellite and uses our scrambler. When you enter your code and press this button it activates and goes through to only one receiver. Either I or my assistant will be on the other end no matter what time you call day or night. The phones we gave you earlier will continue to work fine. For our usual communications, feel free to use them. But for anything perhaps more sensitive, we’d prefer you use this.”

Oscar looked at Gretchen. [So, is this how I keep clear that I’m a McKinsey employee, not a spy for the CIA? You guys are like a sinister cell phone company; every time we renegotiate my contract I get a new phone. Well, I’m not signing up for another two years for this one.]

“It’s all on the up and up, Oscar,” – Gretchen speaking – “We have an open, largely informal, contract with the U.S. government that has been approved by Congress, so we can do this without putting you or me in the position of being inadvertent spies. This information is, despite the secure channels, declassified. There’s a difference between classified and confidential, and this is confidential. Because of our international contacts, we do this with clients frequently, not only with the government.”

[Seems like we’re splitting some pretty fine hairs here. Good job, Oscar; you wanted to do good in the third world, and you’re ending up spying on the guys you want to help, working for the guys you used to trash. ]

He reached across the table and accepted the phone from Ethan Pinsky. “Can I use this to call my Mom? Sure could save on the long distance charges.”

***

[ So much for the IMF operating independently of the CIA. Jesus, does anyone do business as advertised any more?]

***

"Let’s dispense with the pretenses. McKinsey is the CIA, is the IMF."
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