Three of the foundation's initial seven trustees will be Goldman executives.

At that time, Goldman executives said they would commit $350 million to a foundation.

The Goldman executives helped the school create an advisory panel with some top international executives.

Going public and developing a strategy for the Internet are seen as separate but related activities, Goldman executives said.

Two years later, he received a call from a Goldman executive who wanted to start a group to do computer analysis of companies and deals.

Goldman executives effectively admitted that the investment was based on political as well as commercial intentions.

Now Goldman executives say they are happy with the exchange's current structure.

Goldman executives sometimes communicate with employees in firm-wide conference calls.

"The whole pitch is: we're a very stable firm," said a former Goldman executive who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Goldman executives acknowledge that they are not as strong in Russia as some of their competitors.