Achieving Class A Business Excellence: An Executive's Perspective

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OPPORTUNITY

Be careful what you complain about; it just might become your responsibility.

 

 

 

 

 

“I want you to be the new President of Cosmetics Products.”

Susan Barnett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amalgamated Consumer Products Corporation, had been eagerly looking forward to her 10:00 A.M. meeting with Greg Sanders. She had worked with Greg about 10 years earlier at Hillcliff Cosmetics, which owned a number of popular brands. She had held him in high regard then and had followed his career ever since. They still ran into each other at various management forums where they shared their career experiences during breaks. While at Hillcliff, Susan occasionally had dined with Greg and his wife Penny in their home. Susan and Penny had a natural rapport. Now Susan planned to offer Greg the position of President of Amalgamated’s Cosmetics Products division and hoped he would consider the offer too good to refuse.

Despite the unusually blustery and gray March Monday morning in Atlanta, Greg arrived for his meeting on time. They chatted first about family, friends, former colleagues, and general economic conditions. “I appreciate your continuing interest, friendship, and support over the past 15 years. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the time we worked together; I learned a lot from you, Susan. But I was really surprised by your call last week. Fortunately, I’m vacationing at home, so it was easy to make the trip downtown.”

“I’m glad you could make it. Now, let’s get down ...