When I got up this morning and heard the news that Hewlett-Packard had fired Carly Fiorina as CEO, my immediate reaction was to imagine the column I'd be writing about the move. Then I remembered: I don't do that anymore.
But I can't resist noting that, once again, corporate America's movers and shakers are rewarding failure, this time to the tune of a $21 million "severance package." It's how things work for CEOs: Succeed and you get millions. Fail and you get millions.
What a scam. HP's shareholders should be outraged, but like good sheep they'll just let it go.
This is yet another in a long line of amoral lessons to the rest of us from Corporate America. Until shareholders - and indeed, regular citizens - begin to specifically fight this idiocy, the example that they set for the next generation will continue to be tainted. What a sad lesson for us all.
Posted by: Carmi Levy | February 14, 2005 at 09:52 AM
Since there is a lot of unhappiness with this sev. package I would urge every shareholder of HP to reject the next proxy proposed by the Bd. They are the bad guys in this deal. We get what we vote for.
Posted by: jbrennan | February 15, 2005 at 07:55 AM
From one Dan Gilmore to Another,Just Thought I would say hello,Love your name by the way.have agood day.
Posted by: Dan Gilmore | March 01, 2005 at 05:32 PM