Eisner's leash

[Langdonj]

In my job I have the oportunity to monitor CNBC quite a bit. Recently a number of reports have stated that many shareholders are promissing "no" votes on retaining Eisner including some big mutual funds, and their on-line poll this morning came in 6 of 10 thinking Eisner will be gone soon.

My dad used to say: "Never hope for your boss to get fired, you could always end up with someone worse."

Tha main question for me is: for those with a closer view of and tighter relationship with WDW management, how much impact does Eisner really have on how the success and growth of the parks?

 

[KevinPage]

He's the CEO and the parks are a HUGE part of the company, so he has a tremendous impact. Granted, CEO's traditonally don't decide if there should be a Churro cart or Turkey leg stand next to an attraction, but Eisner is notariously "hands on" and "micro manages" everything around him.

With Eisner gone, don't think you are going to see a freshly painted park or new ride annoucement 1 week later.

Think of it like a cancer, one you remove it, your body starts to heal and replinish and thrive once again, slowely but surely.

 

[wdwmagic]

Originally posted by Langdonj
In my job I have the oportunity to monitor CNBC quite a bit. Recently a number of reports have stated that many shareholders are promissing "no" votes on retaining Eisner including some big mutual funds, and their on-line poll this morning came in 6 of 10 thinking Eisner will be gone soon.

My dad used to say: "Never hope for your boss to get fired, you could always end up with someone worse."

Tha main question for me is: for those with a closer view of and tighter relationship with WDW management, how much impact does Eisner really have on how the success and growth of the parks?

Eisner has a huge impact on what happens in the parks. All of the attractions go through his office on their way to approval. Basically he has had the yes or no decision on everything we have seen in the modern-day Disney parks.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

yeah, there's always the potential to get someone worse than Eisner. but we can't let that scare us. Eisner needs to go, and soon! if he doesn't, then we'll be stuck with him for a lot longer than we want to be. he doesn't deserve to be at that company any longer. the longer he stays, the more he'll eat away at The Walt Disney Company as we know it!

 

[cherrynegra]

Originally posted by Dizknee_Phreek
yeah, there's always the potential to get someone worse than Eisner. but we can't let that scare us. Eisner needs to go, and soon! if he doesn't, then we'll be stuck with him for a lot longer than we want to be. he doesn't deserve to be at that company any longer. the longer he stays, the more he'll eat away at The Walt Disney Company as we know it!

I couldn't agree with you more. There is this, "The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know," attitude in some people that is just astounding. You don't continue to let a company flounder and stagnate. You do the hard thing and then move on from there. Everything in steps. I've moved beyond thinking this whole scenario as anti-Eisner. I'm looking at it as pro new leadership change and refocussing of the Disney vision.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Strangly, i fear the exec from NewsCot who's been rumored to succeed Mikey (he parent company of Fox) much more than i fear Eisner. At least we know what kinda <Edited> Eisner is.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The time to start worrying is if his eventual replacement has a background in finance or accountancy.

They know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by Pumbas Nakasak
They know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

How many times have we used that quote when talking about Eisner and his bean counters?

 

[Disney2002]

I can't believe how many people have forgotten the fact that Eisner was essentially the individual who saved Disney from most certain death of quality in the 80's.

Isn't it also interesting how perception of him has moved with the state of the national economy? All's well in the booming 90's, things looking slim in 2001 and on.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Originally posted by Disney2002
I can't believe how many people have forgotten the fact that Eisner was essentially the individual who saved Disney from most certain death of quality in the 80's.

Churchill led Britain to victory in WWII yet before the final sots had been fired he had already been voted out of office. The people recognised him as a great war time leader but not as a man who had the vision to rebuild and progress. The same can be said of Eisner, or for that matter any great sporst coach their time eventualllly comes. Big Es number should have been called two years ago.

 

[ACE]

Originally posted by Disney2002
I can't believe how many people have forgotten the fact that Eisner was essentially the individual who saved Disney from most certain death of quality in the 80's.

Isn't it also interesting how perception of him has moved with the state of the national economy? All's well in the booming 90's, things looking slim in 2001 and on.

Do a search for Eisner and you'll see that no one here has forgotten anything that Eisner has done or hasn't done. The economy and every other aspect of this situation has been covered. Believe me we don't need another thread on that topic.

:wave: ACE

 

[Gregory]

Originally posted by Disney2002
I can't believe how many people have forgotten the fact that Eisner was essentially the individual who saved Disney from most certain death of quality in the 80's.

Isn't it also interesting how perception of him has moved with the state of the national economy? All's well in the booming 90's, things looking slim in 2001 and on.

One word (well.. two): Frank Wells

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Originally posted by Gregory
One word (well.. two): Frank Wells

exactly! Eisner is nothing without Wells!

 

[imagineer99]

Originally posted by ACE
Believe me we don't need another thread on that topic.

Or do we....:lookaroun (just kidding)

As for Eisner's leash, were you referring to this:

 

[Pixie Duster]

Please correct me if I am wrong but there votes are not to remove Eisner from the company. He will still be the CEO, he just won't be the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Right?

 

[BigNorm]

Originally posted by Disney2002
I can't believe how many people have forgotten the fact that Eisner was essentially the individual who saved Disney from most certain death of quality in the 80's.

The late Frank Wells saved the company, Eisner got the credit.

 

[Pixie Duster]

Anyone know if I was mistaken????

 

[cherrynegra]

Originally posted by Pixie Duster
Anyone know if I was mistaken????

I think, and I could be wrong, even if Eisner gets votes withheld in the 30% area, he would still be CEO and Chairman, mainly because he's unopposed. It would then fall onto the Board members to decide what actions, if any, they would take against Eisner.

There have been so many scenarios played out that it's almost impossible to keep track. The main question is what steps the Board will take if the votes are as bad as they thought. Remember that Steve Case was asked to step down from Time/Warner and he got 22% votes withheld. If all the forecasts are right, and Eisner gets something in the 30% range, it's going to be hard to ignore that and the Board will have to do something. They could start by announcing the separation of CEO and Chairman as people have asked for some time. However, any action taken may be slow coming as this Board has already publicly backed Eisner.

 

[Disney2002]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
I think, and I could be wrong, even if Eisner gets votes withheld in the 30% area, he would still be CEO and Chairman, mainly because he's unopposed. It would then fall onto the Board members to decide what actions, if any, they would take against Eisner.

There have been so many scenarios played out that it's almost impossible to keep track. The main question is what steps the Board will take if the votes are as bad as they thought. Remember that Steve Case was asked to step down from Time/Warner and he got 22% votes withheld. If all the forecasts are right, and Eisner gets something in the 30% range, it's going to be hard to ignore that and the Board will have to do something. They could start by announcing the separation of CEO and Chairman as people have asked for some time. However, any action taken may be slow coming as this Board has already publicly backed Eisner.

The Board is the group with the power. The vote will be a tool to force the hand of the board.

 

[cherrynegra]

Very true. Interested to see how the Board acts come Thursday. That's even if the votes are as bad as Disney brass themselves think they are.