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Technology Stocks : PCW - Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ms.smartest.person who wrote (1243)	5/19/2001 8:38:12 PM
From: ms.smartest.person	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2248

New boss must be a `hero to shareholders' By Ben Rogers, Hong Kong iMail TELECOMS and technology experience ... skills honed in a large, powerful organisation with a track record of success ... cross-cultural sensitivity ... good public relations skills ... these attributes are on the shopping list headhunters would draw up in seeking a chief executive officer for PCCW. But the bigger questions for many of them are the role that would be played by Richard Li Tzar-kai as executive chairman and the future direction of the embattled company. ``We look for competencies which conform to the business strategy of the organisation,'' said Vincent Swift, senior partner at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. As well as relevant experience and skills ``honed in a similarly large powerful organisation with a demonstrable track record of success'', candidates would also need to demonstrate ``a good cultural fit with PCCW itself''. Another recruiter, who did not wish to be named, asked: ``If [Mr Li] does not relinquish his role as executive chairman, what is the CEO going to do? Is he actually looking for a chief operating officer?'' Peter Bennett, managing director of Bennett Associates, agreed Mr Li's role was ``a matter of critical importance'' that could ``make or break this search''. If his role was unclear, it could scare off talented candidates. Mr Bennett said the new chief executive would have to be a person ``of international calibre and global experience'' with the required ``cross-cultural sensitivity''. ``It will require somebody of immense experience, maturity and ability to turn the company around,'' who, if he or she succeeded, ``is going to be a hero to shareholders''. Louisa Wong Rousseau, managing director of Bo Le Associates, said image management and relations with the media and investors would, given PCCW's financial situation and recent poor press, take up half of the chief executive's time. The chief executive would also need an understanding of how to move forward as a regional player in the face of strong competition. One headhunter said the qualifications of candidates were not as important as establishing exactly what PCCW's business future is. ``What is PCCW, and how has it become what it has become and why?'' Benedict Rogers 19 May 2001 / 12:22 AM hk-imail.singtao.com