For the former boss of such a firm to be found double-dealing would deal a more profound reputational blow than the usual insider-trading scandal.
One of the more improbable pieces of serious architecture in the United States, it has won a couple of architectural awards and has brought Single Speed a level of acclaim unusual for such a young firm.
Yet online advertising is crucial to Microsoft's growth, says Sarah Friar, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, since it is perhaps the only new market large enough to be "needle-moving" for such a big firm.
Now a commoner gripe at Glaxo's vast new R&D centre in Stevenage in Britain is that discovering a "blockbuster" for such a big firm will not make a researcher rich, as it would at a small company that pays its brains with shares.Most of Glaxo's main rivals companies such as Novartis, Hoechst Marion Roussel and SmithKline Beecham have also bought other firms and cut costs.
"While the total annual cash savings alone is not very meaningful for such a large firm, it is an outlay the company can control and could help implement other actions," said the analyst.
Andreessen Horowitz has been very busy for such a young firm, but it's hard to imagine that they didn't see a heck of lot of deal-flow from day one, considering the networks and clout of its founding partners (Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz).
Meanwhile, Mr Sherin is trying to reduce GE's use of commercial paper (it is the world's largest issuer).Mr Sherin is not alone in his struggles, and few of his fellow CFOs have the luxury of working for such a financially strong firm as GE.
But although the likes of American Barrick have received plaudits from investors for such a strategy, other firms have been willing to suffer the vicissitudes of the gold market because investors want more exposure to the price of gold.Potential problems arise because hedging is not riskless.
In his extremely high-profile position, it is rare to see a man (or woman, for that matter) establish such a firm boundary on personal life, so his declaration is newsworthy and prompting national conversation.
"It's an inspiration to see someone who worked so long and so hard and with such a firm purpose, for so little reward".
