Former Goldman Sachs exec seeks book deal

Greg Smith, the former Goldman Sachs executive who resigned this month and condemned the investment bank in a scathing New York Times opinion column, is seeking a book deal, the newspaper reported.

Smith met with several publishers last week, the newspaper said.

"According to several people who were present, Mr. Smith described his book as a coming-of-age story, the tale of someone who came into the business with good intentions and sky-high ideals that were ultimately pierced by Goldman's obsessive focus on making money," the Times reported.

Smith, who ran Goldman's U.S. equity derivatives business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, spent nearly 12 years at Goldman Sachs. He could not be reached for comment.

The Times said some publishers questioned whether readers would be interested in a narrative about derivatives trading.

In a March 14 opinion column, Smith said Goldman had become a "toxic" place that put its own interests ahead of those of its clients. The bank responded that it disagreed with Smith, and his views did not reflect its business practices.

Smith wrote that Goldman managing directors referred to clients as "muppets," at times over internal email.

-- Reuters