Colonial sentiment or not, the French plan is to hand off Mali to U.N. and African forces and exit completely after elections in July.

WSJ: Anne Jolis: Too Quiet on Mali's Southern Front

The most convoluted CEO exit story this year was the double-barreled ouster at Duke Energy, of Charlotte, N.

FORBES: Vikram Pandit, Brian Dunn Among 2012's Biggest CEO Exits