The curious timing of Mack Whittle’s retirement as CEO of The South Financial Group continues to test the boundary of what constitutes a golden parachute at a bank receiving emergency aid from the federal Troubled Assets Relief Program.

Paul Wolfowitz is never jobless for long.

The State Department announced yesterday that the former World Bank president will chair its International Security Advisory Board. He succeeds former Sen. Fred Thompson, who resigned last summer to launch his short-lived presidential campaign.