Alan Schwartz

Alan Schwartz was the last president and chief executive officer of Bear Stearns when the Federal Reserve Bank of New York forced its takeover by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in March 2008.

Alan Schwartz joined Bear Stearns in 1976 and first worked in Dallas. In 1979 he was appointed Director of Research and Investment in New York City. In 1985, he became executive vice president and head of Bear Stearns' investment banking division. He became co-president and co-COO on June 25, 2001. Schwartz became sole president and COO in August 2007 after Warren Spector (the original heir to chairman and CEO Jimmy Cayne) was forced to resign following the collapse of two hedge funds that anticipated the impending subprime mortgage crisis and financial meltdown. Schwartz became CEO in January 2008.