Wald's pending exit from CNBC surprises insiders

Jon Friedman of Marketwatch writes Tuesday that the impending departure of Jonathan Wald, the senior vice president at CNBC, means that the network will lose the staunchest advocate of its on-air talent.

Friedman writes, “CNBC’s on-air journalists have a reason to dread Wald’s departure. He was a prominent cheerleader for their work inside and outside CNBC.

“I’ve found in doing research for CNBC stories over the years that Wald’s celebrity colleagues greatly appreciated the encouragement and support he gave them. In fact, I can’t remember the last time a news executive gushed so much about any of his or her charges. They repaid his affection for their work by letting it be known how much they relied on him during tough times.

“For instance, Wald helped shield Maria Bartiromo, CNBC’s biggest star, from my interview requests a few years ago when Bartiromo received a dose of unwanted publicity for reportedly taking trips on a Citigroup jet. While I was furious at Wald for deflecting my questions, I grudgingly respected his loyalty to Bartiromo.”

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