NYT banking reporter is leaving

Eric Dash, the banking reporter for The New York Times since 2004, is leaving the paper, according to Ben White of Politico.

White wrote, “From the note Dash will send to colleagues: ‘Friends, I wanted to let you know that after eight years at The New York Times, I am leaving the newspaper. I’ve had an amazing run covering the banks and the financial crisis, but I am now looking forward to a new challenge.  It’s been an extraordinary privilege to work for The Times, and to have been on such an important beat at such an important moment.

“‘I’ve also been fortunate to have such a rich experience so early in my professional life. That’s why I’m convinced that now is the right time for me to take a risk and try something entirely different. I am excited about what lies ahead for me as I move into the next phase of my career, and I plan to take some time to explore. But I do hope that we will stay in touch.'”

Dash has been one of the lead reporters covering the financial crisis. His stories have chronicled the government rescues of the nation’s banks and the policy response from Washington. He has also contributed to the coverage of the European sovereign debt crisis and the broader economic recession.

Dash’s article on risk management lapses at Citigroup was part of “The Reckoning,” a series examining the causes of the financial crisis that earned a 2009 Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished financial journalism and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. His work has also been recognized with several Society of American Business Editors and Writers awards.

Dash has also written extensively on data security and executive pay, and was named to Directorship magazine’s 2010 list of the most influential people in corporate governance. He frequently speaks on compensation and other issues facing the banking industry, and regularly appears on radio and television. He has also written for BusinessWeek and Fortune magazines.