Equifax ex-boss joins these CEOs that landed on Capitol Hill hot seats

Equifax's ex-CEO isn't the first corporate boss to feel notable heat recently on Capitol Hill.

Even as Richard “Rick” Smith was getting squeezed by a House committee Tuesday for Equifax’s handling of a massive data breach, another panel was questioning Wells Fargo’s CEO about the bank’s scandal involving fake accounts.

Experts and consumers have mixed feelings about the sudden departure.

Last year, a former pharmaceuticals chief invoked the Fifth when asked about a huge price markeup on a crucial drug. And lawmakers hammered United Airlines’ CEO over the forcible removal of a paying passenger earlier this year.

CEOs have figured out ways to try to limit the damage from trips to Capitol Hill. In fact, a Georgia executive who faced hostile lawmakers lived to lecture about it. Check out his intriguing advice, in my latest Unofficial Business column on MyAJC.com.

MYAJC.COM: REAL JOURNALISM. REAL LOCAL IMPACT.

AJC Business reporter J. Scott Trubey keeps you updated on the latest news about economic development and commercial real estate in metro Atlanta and beyond. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:

Never miss a minute of what's happening in local business news. Subscribe to myAJC.com.

About the Author

You only turn 100 once. Here’s how Delta celebrated at lavish Atlanta gala

The gala brought together generations of Atlanta mayors, Delta executives, celebrities and aviation enthusiasts to celebrate the airline’s 100th anniversary.

Why this architecture firm has stayed in downtown Atlanta for more than a century

The firm is among the stalwarts of downtown’s corporate ecosystem, which has gone through its ebbs and flows over the past century.

Can a Georgia Tech lab help loosen China’s grip on solar power?

A lab at Georgia tech is experimenting with solar cells made with alternative materials, which its leader believes could help the world meet its energy needs.

The Latest