Goldman's Blankfein might step down -- Fox Business

* Fox Business News report is "not true" - spokesman

* Lloyd Blankfein has faced criticism over SEC charges

* Blankfein has been chairman and CEO since June 2006

By Lauren Tara LaCapra

NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein might be planning to step down at the end of the year, Fox Business Network reported on Thursday.

But a spokesman for Goldman Sachs said the report is not true.

Fox Business reporter Charlie Gasparino said he spoke to friends of Blankfein who said he told them he wants to leave.

The Goldman CEO and chairman has headed the company since June 2006 when his predecessor, Henry Paulson, stepped down to take a position as U.S. Treasury Secretary.

Blankfein came under fire last year for Goldman's practices during the subprime mortgage securitization boom.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil fraud charges against Goldman last April, claiming the investment bank released deceptive marketing materials about a subprime mortgage-linked bond. Goldman settled for $550 million and, while it neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing, it did acknowledge its marketing materials were incomplete.

Blankfein faced tough questioning and criticism from lawmakers about his management of Goldman during a lengthy congressional hearing last year. Following the heightened public criticism, Goldman formed a Business Standards Committee that reviewed its reporting and disclosure policies.

The committee released its recommendations in January after which the firm restructured its business lines and disclosed more information about the way it operates. (Reporting by Lauren Tara LaCapra; editing by Andre Grenon)