Triumph over tragedy

de Duffy, John

"How much human and financial loss can one company endure and still muster the strength and the resources to rebuild itself? The September 11 terrorist attacks pushed many companies beyond what appeared to be the brink of ruin. One of the hardest hit was the investment banking firm of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., who was headquartered on the 88th and 89th floors in Tower Two of the World Trade Center. KBW lost one-third of its staff, including its chairman and co-CEO, five of its nine board members, and its most prominent financial analysts. In addition to this devastating loss of life, the company lost its headquarters, along with every scrap of paper documentation that was kept there - and yet the survivors did not give up.". "Triumph Over Tragedy tells the story of KBW's refusal to succumb to the ravages of terrorism. It introduces a remarkable group of women and men who, having literally fought their way out of a collapsing tower, committed themselves to rebuilding their company, supporting each other, and caring for the families of their fallen coworkers. It also explains how, stunningly, after September 11, the company managed not only to reorganize and relocate its people in various temporary quarters, but to close nine M&A deals begun earlier in the year."--BOOK JACKET.