CNBC Anchor Mark Haines, Founder of Squawk Box, Dead at the Age of 65

REST IN PEACE MARK HAINES

How very sad, CNBC anchor Mark Haines passed away Tuesday at the age of 65. Haines was the founding anchor of CNBC’s morning show “Squawk Box,” was co-anchor of the network’s “Squawk on the Street.” CNBC’s president Mark Hoffman called Haines a “building block” of the financial networks’ programming.

I have been watching since the early 90′s and there was not a day that went by that I did not watch Mark Haines in the morning on Squawk Box. As stated at the Daily Caller, what made Mark Haines so unique and appreciated was that he asked that questions  that us regular folks asked, not the over educated and massive ego intellectuals did. Mark was one of us. Today, there was actually a moment of silence on the floor of the NY Stock Exchange in memory of Mark Haines.

CNBC President Mark Hoffman called Haines a “building block” of the financial network’s programming. Hoffman said Haines died at his home.

“With his searing wit, profound insight and piercing interview style, he was a constant and trusted presence in business news for more than 20 years,” Hoffman said in a statement to CNBC employees. “From the dotcom bubble to the tragic events of 9/11 to the depths of the financial crisis, Mark was always the unflappable pro.

“Mark loved CNBC and we loved him back. He will be deeply missed.”

Mark Haines was a master of mixing economic information and humor and providing unbiased numbers in a stock trading environment that all too often had an agenda.

Haines was well-known around the newsroom for giving his colleagues on-air nicknames. He was responsible for calling David Faber “The Brain,” Joe Kernen “The Kahuna” and Steve Liesman “The Professor.” If a colleague ever complained about it, he would respond, “What’s worth more, your name or the nickname?”

At such an uncertain economic time where jobs are needed to get the United States back on track, a voice like Mark Haines will most surely be missed. Who can forget the tearful good by of Mark Haines to CNBC’s co-host Erin Burnett. Now we say goodbye to Mark.