when times are tough you cut deep, and you start by setting an example.
I completely agree. The personal jet issue aside, Amelio negotiated a huge pay and golden parachute package for himself before taking the CEO job. This is documented in Jim Carlton's book. Now Amelio, as a board member, knew that Apple was in trouble. And, as Carlton tells it, Amelio had them over a barrel because the board basically agreed to give him the job before they had finalized his package; Amelio used this as an opportunity to increase his demands. That goes completely against the spirit of turning around the company.
I have mixed feelings about Amelio. As someone posted recently (Adam?), product cycles are very long, and clearly Amelio should take most of the credit for the G3s, desktop and notebook. But even these wouldn't have put Apple in the black without Steve's severe cutting. And without Steve's salesmanship, I doubt that the launch would have gone as well.
rhet0ric |
