People

DuPont succumbs to activist in absentia

5 Oct 2015

Ellen Kullman is retiring as chair and CEO of the $45 bln chemical giant, five months after fending off a pushy Nelson Peltz. Another profit warning and an interim boss who’s a restructuring guru suggest an abrupt transition. DuPont may have to give a breakup another hearing.

New Twitter CEO flaps with one wing behind back

5 Oct 2015

Co-founder Jack Dorsey is now the micro-blogging site’s permanent boss. But he also leads payments service Square, which is considering an IPO later this year. Perhaps he can succeed at these two very demanding jobs. Twitter, though, has saddled its investors with a risky gamble.

Ralph Lauren’s new CEO saddled with high hopes

30 Sep 2015

The fashion icon passed over his son to hire Gap’s Stefan Larsson to run the family-controlled clothier. Corporate America is increasingly open to outside bosses, despite notable failures. Expectations also can be excessive. After all, investors have valued Larsson at $1.6 bln.

VW could use bank-style clawback of CEO pay

23 Sep 2015

Martin Winterkorn’s resignation clears the way for sweeping changes at the sprawling carmaker after its costly emissions scandal. He was one of Germany’s best-paid bosses. Revamping compensation, and even trying to recoup some of the CEO’s cash, would send a strong message.

Tinder’s executive reshuffle could be right match

17 Aug 2015

The dating site dumped its CEO after just five months, replacing him with founder and former boss Sean Rad. Returning to an ex might seem risky, especially as parent Match prepares for an IPO. But IAC exec Greg Blatt is chaperoning as chairman. Tinder may be ready to get serious.

P&G’s Lafley leaves second act only half finished

29 Jul 2015

The $217 bln nappies-to-razors giant’s CEO passes the baton barely two years after returning to the job. A.G. Lafley has sold divisions, cut costs and killed duff brands, but P&G’s shares barely budged. It now falls to David Taylor to reignite growth - or risk activists’ ire.

Santander U.S. lobs spanner in gears of turnaround

7 Jul 2015

Shares in the Spanish bank’s American auto lender slumped 8 pct after a surprise CEO change before the July 4 weekend. Departing boss Thomas Dundon also bagged a whopping $1 bln exit deal. Such abrupt execution shows Santander’s U.S. operations do not yet have their act together.

Maybe Twitter’s next CEO will be Larry Page

11 Jun 2015

Co-founder and Chairman Jack Dorsey will run the $23 bln micro-blogging company until a replacement for Dick Costolo is found. Leadership turmoil has plagued Twitter for years and impeded its growth. The time is ripe for a buyer to charge in. Google is one good candidate.

Rupert Murdoch’s step back propels dynasty forward

11 Jun 2015

The octogenarian mogul is starting to hand off the Fox media empire to his two sons. Ceding the CEO title to James and making Lachlan an executive chairman should rile non-Murdoch shareholders, who routinely snub the brothers. Chase Carey’s exit crowns the royal succession.

Anshu Jain has an embarrassment of job options

8 Jun 2015

Deutsche Bank’s departing co-CEO can follow so many paths. John Thain downsized. Bob Diamond went to Africa. Huw Jenkins and Alan Schwartz took No. 2 roles elsewhere. John Mack got techie. Jes Staley turned hedgie. And then there’s the Stan O’Neal and Ken Lewis option. Bow out.

Wal-Mart pits nepotism against experience

5 Jun 2015

The $240 bln retailer is replacing Chairman Rob Walton with his son-in-law. That’ll rile investors pushing for independent oversight. Greg Penner has a solid business background – and the family owns half the company. But Penner needs to prove he can get Wal-Mart back on track.

Match-fit FIFA would give players, fans more ball

2 Jun 2015

Sepp Blatter has resigned as the besmirched president of soccer’s governing body. Needed reform is now unavoidable. FIFA’s best strategy would be to embrace it by enfranchising the beneficial owners of the sport: the players and the fans. It would also usher in better governance.

SoftBank’s next boss more symbol than succession

12 May 2015

Chairman Masayoshi Son has no plans to retire but has named ex-Google executive Nikesh Arora as his likely successor. Appointing a foreigner to the role may be mainly a way for SoftBank to gild its international credentials, but the gesture is still a valuable one.

Alibaba generation shift treats investors as kids

8 May 2015

The e-commerce group is swapping its chief executive for a younger insider. The plan was drawn up before the company’s IPO. Yet Alibaba has offered no explanation. Founder Jack Ma wants to promote young leaders, but investors deserve adult answers on who makes decisions and why.

Obama’s recess appointment endangers recovery

4 Jan 2012

The president is bypassing Congress to install the first chief of the new consumer financial watchdog. The move shatters Obama’s already fragile relationship with Republicans. A full extension of the payroll tax cut is now unlikely, which imperils the economy’s shaky progress.