Westport’s Pequot Capital Mangement said today it has hired Wall Street veteran John Mack as chairman of the $6.5 billion hedge fund.

His appointment ends months of speculation that he was waiting in the wings to take the helm at Morgan Stanley, where former executives have been pressing for the ousting of chief executive Philip Purcell.

The rumors persisted despite his insistence that he had no involvement with the rebels. He was president of Morgan Stanley in 1997 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover but quit after he was outmaneuvered by Purcell.

Mack was later recruited by Credit Suisse First Boston and successfully revitalized the investment bank, earning the nickname Mack the Knife for his cost-cutting plans. But he left after a clash over strategy with Credit Suisse’s Zurich leadership.

The old Westport Town Hall on Post Road East is almost a century old and Friday will host a celebration that ties the old with the new.
Former Town Hall: an old postcard view. (CLICK TO ENLARGE File photo

Hudson United Bank of Westport and The Westport Historical Society are joining together for a special celebration called “Something Old is. . . Something New!” as the bank celebrates the grand opening of its new Westport office in the historic building at 90 Post Road East.

On display in the bank�s lobby and offices will be a selection from the Society�s collection of vintage fashions and accessories popular in 1900s, most of which have not been on public display for 15 years.

The new headquarters for Hudson United Bank is a turn of the century-building, circa 1908.

The signs on the doors and window tell the story—Ship’s Corner Chinese Take Out, a downtown Westport presence for 20 years, is closing this week. Owner Johnny Wong said his landlord gave him notice last month and he is looking for another location after two decades at 23 Jesup Road opposite the Westport Public Library. The restaurant’s last day is Thursday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photos

Chalk up another job for Westport homeowner Martha Stewart six weeks after being released from prison. Her media company has signed a four-year deal to start a 24-hour radio satellite channel worth $30 million to the company.

The new channel on Sirius Satellite Radio will be aimed at women and will feature Stewart’s trademark cooking, gardening and entertaining programming.

For Sirius, the deal with Stewart is the most recent effort to ramp up its programming slate to compete with its much larger rival in the satellite radio business, XM Satellite Radio Holdings.

Last year Sirius signed radio host Howard Stern to a five-year, $500 million deal starting in 2006.

Domenic Condoleo: honored by Mitchells. Contributed photoDomenic Condoleo always wanted to be a soccer player, but in 1959 the native of Calabria, Italy, took up a friend’s offer to become a part-time tailor at Mitchells of Westport.

He went full-time a year later and has been there ever since. On Saturday friends and customers will gather at Mitchells to honor him on his 45th anniversary with the store.

It was a great day when Dad hired Domenic,” said store owner Bill Mitchell. ӓI dont know what weҒd do without him. He has got to be the most important person we have.

Now, Condoleo, the father of two grown sons, personally fits some of the best known executives in Fairfield and Westchester Counties who ask for him by name. Store officials say some clients refuse to be fit by any other tailor.