October 31, 2007 (LPAC)--An Italian banker who made his career in the 1970's under the wing of Lazard founder Andre Meyer, is to head the search committee to find a replacement for Merril Lynch CEO Stan O'Neil. (Andre Meyer, the Vichy-linked synarchist banker, was also godfather to Democratic Party moneybags, Felix Rohatyn.)

The new search committee head, Alberto Cribiore, was head of Ifint USA, the U.S. branch of the Agnelli family holdings in the 1970s. He then worked at Warner Communication and in the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Eventually, he founded his own private equity firm, Brera Capital, named after the Brera School of Fine Arts in Milan.

Yes, patching the holes in Merrill Lynch will take much art and finesse.