Dogeza, US style

Here’s a trend we’d like to encourage…

Ten years after consummating what is generally regarded as the worst merger in corporate history, former Time Warner AOL chief executive Jerry Levin has apologised.

What’s more, he’s encouraging other execs to atone for their sins – pointing specifically to those in the financial sector who presided over the biggest financial bust in memory.

As Levin told CNBC:

Let’s hear publicly from Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, on and on…It’s time for those who are involved in companies to stand up and say, ‘you know what, I’m solely responsible for it. I was the CEO; I was in charge; I’m really very sorry about the pain and suffering and loss this has caused. I take responsibility. It wasn’t the board; it wasn’t my colleagues. It wasn’t the bankers and lawyers…

Levin’s apology is delivered with some grace, even if it has taken a decade to arrive. For those former bank chiefs now lining up to follow his example, here’s a little guide from Japan…