My Kind of CEO: BMW CHIEF CHIDES CHANCELLOR

[GTaudiophile]

The Chairman of BMW has joined the line of those criticizing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder?s anti-American politicking. The relationship between the U.S. and German ?was developed,? Panke said during a Geneva Motor Show reception, ?over 50 years. It should not be undermined by?inappropriate political statements.? Panke stressed that so far, the German leader?s harsh words ? including vocal opposition to an Iraqi invasion ? have not hurt BMW sales. But that could change. The tone in the American media originally singled out Schroeder for criticism, then German politicians. Now it has begun to criticize Germany and Germans in general, Panke noted. The BMW CEO recently met with Schroeder, as well as his colleagues at the other German automakers and, Panke said, he expressed his concerns directly to the chancellor, who he accused of risking long-term damage to bi-national relations in order to make short-term political gains. ?Paul A. Eisenstein

Source

 

[B00ne]

Yeah way to go greed ranks higher than moral.
Anyway, while I do not agree with Schroeders rhetorics I think he just upped the ante - it was Bush and especially Rumsfeld the slammed the wedge into the relationsship and they are not stopping turning Germans into Antiamericans (for the time of their admin anyway)

 

[freegeeks]

who cares -- it's a CEO -- upper management can blow me -- greedy bastards

as long the polls show that the German public opinion is on Schroeder's side he has nothing to fear.

 

[Red Dawn]

It wasn't that long ago when the Germans were our friends

 

[BigSmooth]

It seems to me high-profile CEOs should probably refrain from political comments, especially those that don't support your country's leader.

If I was an investor in Ford and Bill Ford started making statements renouncing Bush's Iraq policy, I'd be pissed, no matter what my political views on the subject were.

I'm not saying I don't agree with Panke, but these comments just seem inappropriate. Also, he certainly shouldn't pander to the American press because he's afraid his sales will take a hit.

 

[freegeeks]

It wasn't that long ago when the Germans were our friends

nice story

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
It seems to me high-profile CEOs should probably refrain from political comments, especially those that don't support your country's leader.

If I was an investor in Ford and Bill Ford started making statements renouncing Bush's Iraq policy, I'd be pissed, no matter what my political views on the subject were.

I'm not saying I don't agree with Panke, but these comments just seem inappropriate. Also, he certainly shouldn't pander to the American press because he's afraid his sales will take a hit.

The CEO of Ford at the time of WWII was fairly vocal about his support for der fuerer and his belief that Jews were inferior. Do you or anyone you know remember that? CEO's have an obligation from their shareholders to defend shareholder value, and if the CEO of BMW thinks this will hurt sales he SHOULD talk publically and vocally about the damage it will do to his company and the german economy. That's his job.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
who cares -- it's a CEO -- upper management can blow me -- greedy bastards

Yeah, how dare they work their arse off and get a better job than your $5.50/Hour burger-flipping gig?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

So Germany gets fried because it is held that businesses there stand to lose in the case of war and that dictates policy, then a German business concerned about sales gets praised because he voices an opinion on how business may suffer if Germany does not support war.

<looks up the definition of hypocracy>

Yep, it's right there.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
It seems to me high-profile CEOs should probably refrain from political comments, especially those that don't support your country's leader.

If I was an investor in Ford and Bill Ford started making statements renouncing Bush's Iraq policy, I'd be pissed, no matter what my political views on the subject were.

I'm not saying I don't agree with Panke, but these comments just seem inappropriate. Also, he certainly shouldn't pander to the American press because he's afraid his sales will take a hit.

The CEO of Ford at the time of WWII was fairly vocal about his support for der fuerer and his belief that Jews were inferior. Do you or anyone you know remember that? CEO's have an obligation from their shareholders to defend shareholder value, and if the CEO of BMW thinks this will hurt sales he SHOULD talk publically and vocally about the damage it will do to his company and the german economy. That's his job.

Uh, so you think it was a positive thing for Ford and their shareholders that their CEO came out in favor of Hitler and Aryan supremacy?

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteve

Originally posted by: freegeeks
who cares -- it's a CEO -- upper management can blow me -- greedy bastards

Yeah, how dare they work their arse off and get a better job than your $5.50/Hour burger-flipping gig?

Well I think he is right though little example at Mercedes: development of salaries last year : General work force -10%, the board ( or however it is called in english (Vorstand): +131%
now tell me that doesn't look greedy

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: B00ne
Yeah way to go greed ranks higher than moral.
Anyway, while I do not agree with Schroeders rhetorics I think he just upped the ante - it was Bush and especially Rumsfeld the slammed the wedge into the relationsship and they are not stopping turning Germans into Antiamericans (for the time of their admin anyway)

Yeah, Greed on part of Schroeders for wanting to keep their contracts in Iraq for oil and construction.... and no im not kidding.

 

[Kilgor]

who cares -- it's a CEO -- upper management can blow me -- greedy bastards

What's wrong with being greedy, in a capitalistic society it?s an asset.

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

Originally posted by: B00ne
Yeah way to go greed ranks higher than moral.
Anyway, while I do not agree with Schroeders rhetorics I think he just upped the ante - it was Bush and especially Rumsfeld the slammed the wedge into the relationsship and they are not stopping turning Germans into Antiamericans (for the time of their admin anyway)

Yeah, Greed on part of Schroeders for wanting to keep their contracts in Iraq for oil and construction.... and no im not kidding.

yes you are kidding we dont have no oil industry
And now show me those contracts - all i have seen so far was economic engagement worth $100-400mill per year now u can calculate how important that would be in a $2.4 trillion economy. Dont believe everything your "gleichgeschaltete" Media is telling you

So if Schr&ouml;ders stance on Iraq was for economical reasons, then how do u fit some 75 or so % of the germans sharing his stance in the issue - u know we are a democracy, that means our leaders Should do what the majority wants - I wonder what kind of democracy Iraq is supposed to become, if the US government disses the opinion of the countries that voice a stance in accordance to their public opinoin. But I am sure your friends Spain and England that are all gung ho about going into Iraq can help ( in both countries an overwhelming majority opposes the stance of their government (spain more than 90% against the war).

BTW if this was about economical engagement don't u think Schr&ouml;der would rather appease the biggest trade partner Germany has, little hint: the name of the country starts with "U" and finishes with an "a" and I am not talking of Uganda 😉

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
It seems to me high-profile CEOs should probably refrain from political comments, especially those that don't support your country's leader.

If I was an investor in Ford and Bill Ford started making statements renouncing Bush's Iraq policy, I'd be pissed, no matter what my political views on the subject were.

I'm not saying I don't agree with Panke, but these comments just seem inappropriate. Also, he certainly shouldn't pander to the American press because he's afraid his sales will take a hit.

The CEO of Ford at the time of WWII was fairly vocal about his support for der fuerer and his belief that Jews were inferior. Do you or anyone you know remember that? CEO's have an obligation from their shareholders to defend shareholder value, and if the CEO of BMW thinks this will hurt sales he SHOULD talk publically and vocally about the damage it will do to his company and the german economy. That's his job.

Uh, so you think it was a positive thing for Ford and their shareholders that their CEO came out in favor of Hitler and Aryan supremacy?

The Point I made and that you missed is that shareholders and consumers don't have memories beyond that of the term of the chairman. If a chairman did do or say something that is damaging company the consumers and shareholders forget the transgression once the CEO is gone. Although FORD CEO's remarks were reprehensible they are forgotten. BMW's CEO risks the loss of sales, something his shareholders should be demanding that he try to prevent in any manner he can. As a shareholder it's all about the $$.

 

[BigSmooth]

I see what you mean. However, I think that in many ways the market has changed a great deal since that time. Institutional investing is the norm rather than the exception now, and information spreads much more rapidly. One misstep by a CEO could cause a lot more damage to his company in a much shorter period of time. I've read about large PERS destroying mid-size companies' stock value by "voting with their feet" when the company doesn't knuckle under to their influence.

When it comes to a volatile and polarizing situation such as potential war with Iraq, it seems to me that statements such as Panke's will not go a long way towards protecting his share value. I simply think that renouncing your government's foreign policy is more likely to cause harm than good.

 

[freegeeks]

Yeah, how dare they work their arse off and get a better job than your $5.50/Hour burger-flipping gig?

please. Today it seems to me that CEO's get rewarded for their bad management decisions. They f*ck up whole companies while they get rich with shady practices.

a few ex.:

KPN -- upper management buys for billions of UMTS licences and brings the company on the edge of bankruptcy. Thousands of workers loose their job to rescue the company. The CEO who approved the licences gets a golden handshake (read: a couple of millions) for his good "services" and the newly apppointed CEO gets a pay raise and millions worth of stock options.

See also Enron and Worldcom. Upper management is filling their pockets and the grunts and shareholders have to bite the bullet.

The reality is that a lot of these CEO's don't give a sh*t about their workforce or the shareholders. They are CEO to fill their pockets.


For me the political opinion of a CEO belongs in the same league as the political opinons of Hollywood stars. Both groups need a reality check because they are living in their own LaLaLand of champagne and playing golf. Their opinion is noted and filed in my hairy ass.

 

[Moonbeam]

What's wrong with being greedy, in a capitalistic society it?s an asset.
------------------------------------
Nothing, so long as you don't mind feeling like a worthless piece of sh!t.

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: B00ne

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteve

Originally posted by: freegeeks
who cares -- it's a CEO -- upper management can blow me -- greedy bastards

Yeah, how dare they work their arse off and get a better job than your $5.50/Hour burger-flipping gig?

Well I think he is right though little example at Mercedes: development of salaries last year : General work force -10%, the board ( or however it is called in english (Vorstand): +131%
now tell me that doesn't look greedy

How much of that +131% was stock-options? And I find it really hard to believe that the general workforce took a 10% paycut, considering how strong IG Metal (the union) is.

 

[B00ne]

may I say 4.7 mill unemployed....