Title: President & COO of Merrill Lynch

Age: 50

Education: BA Kettering University; MBA Harvard University

Background information: O'Neal has been with Merrill for 15 years and was promoted to head the private client business in April 2000 having previously served as chief financial officer and head of its capital market business. In July 2001, O'Neal was named president and chief operating officer in a move viewed by analysts as closing one of the most keenly-watched succession contests in US banking. He is considered heir-apparent to chairman and CEO David Komansky, who retires in 2004. If O'Neal does assume the position, he would be the first African-American to head a major Wall Street company.