Shoot the messenger.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)

Arkansas Business got wind recently that Robert Stebbins had been ousted as Metropolitan National Bank's senior vice president and director of marketing. Stebbins had done a solid job steering the organization through several PR nightmares--restatements, lawsuits brought by developers, etc. Stebbins said the move was part of wider layoffs, but could not specify how wide those go.

"The separation has been very positive and amicable under the circumstances; and I thank Metropolitan for five wonderful years of opportunity, take pride in the outstanding accomplishments we achieved together and wish them the very best in the future," Stebbins wrote in a prepared statement.