Sino-Forest CEO Faces ‘Herculean’ Task

Sino-Forest Corp. (TRE) Chief Executive Officer Judson Martin, a former real estate and television executive, is trying to draw a line under a disastrous five months for the forestry company beset by accusations of fraud. Martin, who replaced company founder Allen Chan as CEO in August, said yesterday that an investigation by an independent committee showed Sino-Forest isn’t a “Ponzi scheme” as alleged by Muddy Waters LLC, a research firm. Since Muddy Water’s report was published in June, Sino-Forest’s stock has plunged 74 percent and Canadian regulators and police have started their own probes. “It’s really great to be able to talk openly, talk with strength, talk with conviction against...