Levin's announcement last week that he is to retire from the company next May sent shock waves through the industry. Although Levin, aged 63, had been expected to announce his retirement shortly, he had not been expected to step down for another two years.
However, the terrorist attacks on September 11 are believed to have affected Levin a great deal, almost as much as his son's murder in 1997, it has been reported.
According to company insiders, Case was becoming increasingly impatient with Levin's behaviour since the terrorist attacks, Newsweek has reported.
Levin told investors that the company would spend heavily on what he termed "the company's mission as a public trust" -- even if it meant lower profits.
Levin is believed to have exasperated Case further by sending out a company-wide email from the two of them on the eve of Thanksgiving without obtaining Case's signature, which outlined several so-called "guiding principles" for the company, reiterating his intent on investing in the public trust.
It has also been reported that Levin had indicated to his successor Richard Parsons as early as spring 2000 that he would take over as CEO when he retired.
Levin is understood to have had doubts about co-chief operating officer Robert Pittman and had been angered when Pittman appeared on the cover of Business Week just days after AOL Time Warner was created.
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