In fact, the Wall Street Journal opened the new year with a story that identified the CEOs of six companies who are under growing pressure by impatient investors and skeptical directors and, presumably, will have to deal decisively with such threats before 2014 is over.
Those fingered by the publication were:
Michael Jeffries, Abercrombie & Fitch
Edward Lampert, Sears
Sheri McCoy, Avon Products
Marissa Mayer, Yahoo!
Irene Rosenfeld, Mondelez
Don Thompson, McDonald’s
The Journal’s choices are ones who have generally come under pressure from activist investors lately, who of course are only too happy to heighten the angst around any CEO for their own purposes.
But they’re mostly companies – Abercrombie, Avon, McDonald’s and Sears – whose CEOs basically have been struggling to keep their companies’ traditional business models relevant to new realities imposed by factors ranging from a sluggish economy to fading brand relevance to the ever-changing vagaries of the digital tsunami.
The two others – Mayer of Yahoo! and Rosenfeld of Mondelez – are in the midst of drastic overhauls that they hope will reposition their companies solidly on new business models.
And to paraphrase Sesame Street, which of these CEOs is not like the others – which of these just doesn’t belong? Maybe Thompson of McDonald’s. Yes, the fast-food giant had a terrible 2013 in which nothing the CEO did seemed to work, including new products and customer service. But the whole Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector has been struggling mightily with a stingier new kind of consumer, and Thompson’s predecessor, Jim Skinner, had lots of naysayers when he began as CEO too.
Ironically, Lambert may be in the least trouble for his job of all six CEOs listed even though Sears arguably is the most existentially challenged of the half-dozen companies. That’s because he individually owns Sears’ biggest shareholding. But that status, of course, also means that Lambert is the mostly likely chief of the group to go down with the ship.
Read: https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304753504579282292379820888
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
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2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
