Steven K. Lee gone !

[Cron]

I got an actual newsletter - Steven K. Lee is no more in Leica business!

 

[Uwe_Nds]

http://www.visavis.de/modules.php?name=djnews&djn_id=50809
Looks like it.

Best regards,
Uwe

 

[mr_phillip]

Blimey!!! That's what you get for blabbering about full-frame M8s.

I wonder if that godawful flash intro to the website did for him*–*it was certainly a sackable offense for someone.

 

[BNF]

He only started in November 2006 - that's only c15 months at the helm.

This is really an intriguing development, IMO. I really wonder if the volume, big box background that was apparently part of what got him in, ultimately pushed him out.

It's rarely a good sign when the CEO is relieved. I'm glad my paycheck doesn't depend on Leica.

 

[sakebalboa]

Blimey!!! That's what you get for blabbering about full-frame M8s.

I wonder if that godawful flash intro to the website did for him*–*it was certainly a sackable offense for someone.

seriously that flash intro is in such poor taste and freaking loud too.

 

[ZebGoesZeiss]

Well, I hope they didn't sack the CEO over a friggin shutter! 😀
I hope they have the PR dept. working overtime...

 

[veraikon]

The "official news":

22.02.2008 12:31

DGAP-Adhoc:
Leica Camera AG: Personelle Änderungen im Vorstand
Leica Camera AG / Personalie

22.02.2008

Veröffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung nach § 15 WpHG, übermittelt durch die DGAP - ein Unternehmen der EquityStory AG. Für den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Der Aufsichtsrat der Leica Camera AG hat am heutigen Tage Herrn Steven K. Lee als Mitglied und Vorsitzenden des Vorstands der Leica Camera AG mit sofortiger Wirkung abberufen.

Gleichzeitig hat der Aufsichtsrat Herrn Dr. Andreas Kaufmann zum weiteren Mitglied des Vorstands sowie zum Vorsitzenden des Vorstands, und zwar für die Zeit bis zum 28. Februar 2009, bestellt. Herr Dr. Andreas Kaufmann wird die Gesellschaft zunächst gemeinsam mit Herrn Andreas Lobejäger leiten. Herr Dr. Kaufmann ist berechtigt, die Gesellschaft allein zu vertreten.

http://financial.de/newsroom/news_d/132777.html


and here the non official:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...-steven-k-lee-heute-entthront.html#post491070

 

[mr_phillip]

I did wonder when he dropped that classic "CE-Oh no he didn't!" moment at PMA how long he'd last, especially after hearing how horrified the attending Leica marketing bods were. Doesn't he remember the Osborne One?

 

[BillBingham2]

Not good at all. I read this as he may have gotten the sack for wanting to do the right thing for us. Ugh!

B2 (;->

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not good at all. I read this as he may have gotten the sack for wanting to do the right thing for us. Ugh!

B2 (;->

Or possibly for expressing personal opinions, at odds with technical possibility, once too often?

Cheers,

R.

 

[BillBingham2]

Could be

Could be

Or possibly for expressing personal opinions, at odds with technical possibility, once to often?

Cheers,

R.

Could be, but I've always found that technology and people can rise to the occasion when led. Pushing often results in sub optimal results. My read is that the board heard negatives from marketing/sales and decided that their purse fattening was more important than the vision and the customer.

B2 (;->

 

[naos]

I wonder what this means for the future of Leica.....?

 

[lemalk]

Here's my guess -
"Leica is proud to now announce the M9!*"


*The previous offer of the M8 upgrade expiration date of "infinity" has now been changed to February, 20th, 2008. We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

[mr_phillip]

My read is that the board heard negatives from marketing/sales and decided that their purse fattening was more important than the vision and the customer.

B2 (;->

I suspect there's more to it than that, although likely we'll never know what's really happened, but I had heard from multiple sources that you'd be hard pressed to find anyone within Leica who had a good word to say about him (in a professional sense).

More importantly though, it'll be fascinating to see where they go from here. Who they hire to replace Lee, or promote, will surely be a strong indication of the company's future direction.

 

[tomasis]

THANKS GOD because LEe is SLR user, hehe

 

[Mackinaw]

Back in the 1970's, Henry Ford II, then CEO of The Ford Motor Company, fired second-in-command-and-heir-apparent Lee Iacocca with the reason, "I just didn't like him."

This stuff happens all the time in industry. Whether it's a good move or bad move? I guess we'll find out.

Jim B.

 

[BNF]

Kaufmann is under no obligation to replace Lee as CEO.

Herr Dr. Kaufmann ist berechtigt, die Gesellschaft allein zu vertreten.

 

[RF-Addict]

For a german company to fire their CEO is very significant - this does not happen every day. There must have been major disagreements between Kaufmann and Lee and the rest of the board. I am certain we will hear some sort of announcement in the near future that will contradict what Lee has previously said. We'll find out soon enough.

 

[xayraa33]

Mr. Lee was not moving the company fast enough on the full frame DRF development.
Leica has gotten wind that a certain other firm is already on track on the full frame DRF creation front.

 

[lemalk]

Leica has gotten wind that a certain other firm is already on track on the full frame DRF creation front.

Aww, c'mon! You can't just TEASE like that! Who would this other firm be?