Boardroom

HTC's Exec Exodus Prompts Questions About Company's Future
May 23, 2013

Top executives are leaving HTC as the smartphone company's market share dwindles rapidly, according to published reports. The latest to depart is HTC Asia CEO Lennard Hoornik, who joins at least five other senior executives. Those include product strategy manager Eric Lin, who issued a tweet urging colleagues to leave the company.

Clearwire Board Gives Nod to Sweeter Sprint Bid
May 22, 2013

Clearwire's special committee and its board of directors recommended that shareholders approve Sprint's increased offer to buy the remaining half of the company. Sprint already owns about 50 percent of Clearwire. It upped its bid to purchase the remaining stake by 14 percent Tuesday, offering $3.40 per share. That offer values Clearwire at $10.7 billion.

Joe Tucci's Magic Turnaround Formula
May 13, 2013

I've been focused on and off on turnarounds since I covered IBM's from the inside out in the 1990s, so I don't know how I missed this, but EMC²'s turnaround was clearly a success, and its unique resulting organizational structure is incredibly subtle. The company is actually far more similar in breadth to HP than most folks realize, largely because they mix up EMC and EMC².

Icahn Leads New Pitch to Win Dell Shareholders
May 11, 2013

Two of Dell's largest stockholders, Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management, have teamed up to propose an alternative to Michael Dell's plans to take his computer company private. The new deal on the table, issued in a letter to board members, involves a leveraged recapitalization that will pay investors and keep them on as shareholders in a public company.

Cook Replacement Rumors Smolder
April 22, 2013

Steve Jobs left big shoes to fill, and rumors circulated this week that Apple CEO Tim Cook may not be living up to expectations. This comes as Apple's stock closed at a 52-week low last Friday. Adding to the company's misery, Apple reportedly has earned the nickname "Poison Apple" with some Asian suppliers who are finding its high standards and low price expectations somewhat hard to meet.

Can Apple's 'Genius' Sprout Far From the Tree?
April 17, 2013

Messianic tendencies are seldom healthy, but they can be doubly destructive in business, where a misstep, missed trend or messy product launch can turn last year's wunderkind into this year's washout. So it's interesting to consider why Silicon Valley -- along with much of the rest of IT -- is so fixated on "rock star" executives. If you think an industry that prides itself on innovation would be immune to self-indulgent behavioral clichés, you'd be wrong.

Michael Dell Goes Into Safe Mode
April 01, 2013

Michael Dell, CEO of the PC maker that bears his name, may be considering a buyout offer from the Blackstone Group -- a bid that competes with a deal he put together himself -- but only with some serious strings attached. Apparently he not only wants the company to retain the Dell moniker, but also wants to remain in charge.

Sharks Circle Struggling Dell
March 26, 2013

Dell confirmed Monday that two new possible buyers have submitted bids for the company: Boulder Acquisition Corp. and its Blackstone Group affiliate; and perennial corporate raider Carl Icahn. Dell has already accepted an offer made earlier this year by founder Michael Dell and Silver Lake, but it is bound by law to seek alternative offers.

The Fall of Apple and the Return of BlackBerry
March 25, 2013

We tend to be slow to see change. If a company is on top, like Apple was, it takes a lot for us to see its fortunes have changed, as they clearly have post-Jobs. If a company is on the bottom, like BlackBerry was, it may be even tougher to see it on the rebound. We simply don't like the change in our worldview, and this isn't just with regard to companies but people as well.

Adobe Earnings Rush In but CTO Rushes to Apple's Arms
March 20, 2013

Adobe reported a strong first quarter of 2013 Tuesday, just as news hit that Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch is leaving the company and heading to Apple. The company beat analyst expectations for the quarter. Adobe reported a revenue of $1.008 billion, with net income coming in at $177.9 million.

Riccitiello Booted as EA Reboots
March 19, 2013

John Riccitiello, who was at the helm of video game publisher Electronic Arts as it tried to navigate major shifts in the industry, will step down as CEO on March 30. Chairman Larry Probst, EA's CEO when Riccitiello took over in 2007, will serve as the company's executive chairman and temporary leader while it searches for a new chief executive.

Samsung Tries On Triple-Crown Leadership for Size
March 16, 2013

Samsung Electronics has named two new chief executive officers, bringing the number of company heads to three: Joining the current CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon as coCEOs will be Boo-keun Yoon and J.K. Shin. They are the head of Samsung's consumer electronics and mobile divisions, respectively. Both men have scored notable achievements in their roles.

The Employee Heroes at HP: Making an Impossible Turnaround
March 11, 2013

It is very difficult to pull off a turnaround. This is because you typically start with a company that is unprofitable and lacking the resources to compete. You have employees who are still on the job only because they haven't been able to find another one, and you're selling products that few want to buy. To successfully execute a turnaround, you need heroic employees who are willing to step up despite the problems.

Mason Marches, Groupon Regroups
March 01, 2013

A day after posting disappointing quarterly earnings, Groupon ousted its founder and CEO Andrew Mason. The company's stock jumped 4 percent in after-hours trading as the news became public. "I've decided that I'd like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding -- I was fired today. If you're wondering why... you haven't been paying attention," Mason said in a letter to employees.

Yahoo Picks Up Speed With Alike Acquisition
February 14, 2013

In case investors have any doubts that Yahoo sees its future in mobile, events of the past few days should dispel them once and for all. News surfaced Tuesday that Yahoo has acquired Alike, a mobile app that guides users to find nearby venues and places to visit. Also on Tuesday, CEO Marissa Mayer sketched out her vision for Yahoo at an investors conference hosted by Goldman Sachs.

Apple's Cook: We're Not Done Innovating Yet
February 13, 2013

Despite a stock drop, a lawsuit from a hedge fund manager and questions about future products, Apple CEO Tim Cook told the audience at a Goldman Sachs technology conference Tuesday that innovation remains "deeply embedded" in the company's culture, and that it has "never been stronger."

Disgruntled Investors Could Deep-Six Dell Deal
February 12, 2013

Dell's plan to go private in what would be one of the biggest leveraged buyouts in recent years appears to be in jeopardy. Some of the company's largest shareholders have come out against the move. Southeastern Asset Management filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a letter it sent to Dell's board of directors warning them that it will vote against the deal.

Big Google Cashout Plan Has Analysts Picking Schmidt's Brain
February 11, 2013

Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt might sell as much as 42 percent of his shares in the tech giant, according to an SEC filing. At the stock's current price of around $785 per share, the sale could yield about $2.5 billion for Schmidt. He currently owns about 7.6 million shares of Class A and Class B common stock.

Game Devs Jailed for 'Shooting' Greek Military Bases Out on Bail
January 16, 2013

Video games strive to be realistic, but this was probably too real. Two game developers from the Czech Republic were released on bail after being jailed for taking photos and videos of military bases and installations in Greece. The duo, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, work for Bohemia Interactive. They reportedly were arrested in September after capturing images that local authorities deemed sensitive.

2012's Most Notable Computer Crimes
January 16, 2013

Users of the Internet and electronic gear are vulnerable to criminals near and far, but we don't always hear about what happens at court and whether the alleged criminals are convicted or acquitted. Here is an update on some those crimes for consideration. After an 11-day jury trial in Denver, members of the management of Executive Recycling were convicted of illegally disposing of e-waste overseas.