[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

Jamie Dimon has garnered praise for his role as JPMorgan Chase Chairman, President and CEO.  Despite his firm's $6.2 billion infamous trading loss, Mr. Dimon is credited with bringing JPMorgan to the forefront of the U.S. banking industry.  This year, his virtues are being sung for another position, that of U.S. Treasury Secretary, to be vacated by Timothy Geithner early next year.

Bonnie Baha, portfolio manager for global developed credit at Doubleline Capital LP, recognized the bank chief's "ability to communicate ideas."  She said that In context, the amount JPMorgan lost was "barely a blip" for the bank over the long haul.

"We all have issues that happen on our watch that are regrettable."

Mr. Dimon first drew Ms. Baha's praise during the London Whale debacle, nicknamed for the trader held responsible for the aggressive and risky derivatives trades that triggered massive losses.  Speaking at Reuters Investment 2013 Outlook Summit, Mr. Dimon acknowledged JPMorgan's failings and made several key adjustments, she said.  Mr. Dimon has served on the board of directors at the New York Federal Reserve Bank for 6 years and as one of the senior corporate chieftains with whom Obama has been in touch to press his economic agenda, 

What are the chances? As for the likelihood of Mr. Dimon being chosen for the top post at Treasury, Ms. Baha said: "Would I like to see him get it? Yes. Will he get it? No."  Neither will Warren Buffett, she said, on the grounds that he is "too old," and Laurence Fink, chairman of the giant BlackRock money management company, is "too polarizing."

At JPMorgan, anyway, Mr. Dimon's role leadership carries on.  Last week, he appointed executive Marianne Lake as JPMorgan Chase's CFO, replacing Doug Braunstein, to make her one of Wall Street's most powerful women and  top ambassador to investors for the largest U.S. bank.  Mr. Lake, 43, a CFO  for JPM's retail branch systems since 2009, will report directly to Mr. Dimon, effective early next year.