World's most idiotic CEO!

[Leongsam]

JAL's CEO takes bus to work and eats at the cafeteria (even when the press aren't following him)

by Josh Lew Dec 11th 2008 @ 2:00PM
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Every couple of days here in Minneapolis, Northwest CEO Doug Steenland is on the television telling the thousands on Northwest employees living in the Twin Cities not to worry about losing their jobs after the merger with Delta is completed. Judging by the number of strikes and employee complaints NW has experienced over the past few years, I'd say no one takes him too seriously. If you you headed a company that performed so poorly and you still made Steenland's salary (before perks), you wouldn't be worried about anything or anyone.

Perhaps top execs at US airlines could learn something from JAL CEO Haruka Nishimatsu. After major lay-offs three years ago, Nishimatsu cut all his perks and then slashed his salary. In 2007, he made $90,000. A tidy sum, but much less than many of JAL's pilots make. He takes public transit to work and eats lunch next to the plebes in the cafeteria.

Perhaps you could chalk up Nishimatsu's approach to cultural differences between the US and Japan. But his explanation of the rational behind cutting his own perks and salary makes perfect sense to me.

"We in Japan learned during the bubble economy that businesses who pursue money first fail. The business world has lost sight of this basic tenet of business ethics."

Is this ethical approach working? JAL is faring reasonably well. Compared to US airlines, it is quite successful. So you can be ethical and successful? Amazing.

 

[VIBGYOR]

hey i take bus to work too! what so stupid about that?

 

[po2wq]

... Perhaps top execs at US airlines could learn something from JAL CEO Haruka Nishimatsu. After major lay-offs three years ago, Nishimatsu cut all his perks and then slashed his salary. In 2007, he made $90,000. A tidy sum, but much less than many of JAL's pilots make. He takes public transit to work and eats lunch next to the plebes in the cafeteria.

...

"We in Japan learned during the bubble economy that businesses who pursue money first fail. The business world has lost sight of this basic tenet of business ethics."

Is this ethical approach working? JAL is faring reasonably well. Compared to US airlines, it is quite successful. So you can be ethical and successful? Amazing.

ze multi-million $ world crass gahmen was reading n discussing tis n was contemplating n wifin a whisker 2 making a decision 2 adopt tis approach ...

n den, dey read ur title ...

 

[halsey02]

Ass loong...looking at the picture of him attending the 'lo hei' at GSK, have so many 'protectors'....you think, he will take the commuter trains to work?...

 

[kakowi]

...

"We in Japan learned during the bubble economy that businesses who pursue money first fail. The business world has lost sight of this basic tenet of business ethics."

...

I was wondering what was that 'basic tenet'?

It turned out that the basic tenet referred to was the pay gap between the top and the bottom.

Full quote:

In Japan, says Nishimatsu, there's less of a pay gap between the top and the bottom. "We in Japan learned during the bubble economy that businesses who pursue money first fail. The business world has lost sight of this basic tenet of business ethics." Nishimatsu says his airline has a long, difficult recovery ahead. As far as his pay, he's dug into his savings like the rest of us.

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If that is true, then by other people's tenets, Nishimatsu is either not a real talent or will not remain honest for long.

It is also highly doubtful that he can cook french food.

 

[The_Latest_H]

Well good job to the CEO. In fact I think he's the smartest CEO in the world. At least he would win his employees over and win the PR outside of his company.

His level of EQ is just top class stuff.

 

[VIBGYOR]

Well good job to the CEO. In fact I think he's the smartest CEO in the world. At least he would win his employees over and win the PR outside of his company.

His level of EQ is just top class stuff.

have you seen our MIWs eating at Hawker centers?

 

[The_Latest_H]

have you seen our MIWs eating at Hawker centers?

Nah. Obama has ate in many common restaurants- all informal- during his campaign though. Even as a Senator, he has ate in places where a lot of ordinary people hung about.

I wish our leaders could be as humble as the JAL boss.

 

[R4g3]

http://donklephant.com/2008/12/09/how-ceos-should-act/

JAL was going through some very tough times in 2007 when Nishimatsu was appointed CEO. Jobs were cut. People were asked to take early retirement. As he commented “The employees who took early retirement are the same age as me. I thought I should share the pain with them. So I changed my salary.”

this is what sharing of pain is all about, not just empty talk from our pappies.

 

[snrcitizen]

have you seen our MIWs eating at Hawker centers?

They are probably flying in chefs from Europe and/or Japan to cook for them. :p

 

[congo9]

He is a complete opposite of our great leaders , helm by LKY !

 

[Zeitgeist]

He is a complete opposite of our great leaders , helm by LKY !

Immortals bro, immortals.

 

[Snipeshot08]

After major lay-offs three years ago, ********* cut all his perks and then slashed his salary. In 2007, he made $90,000.

So you can be ethical and successful? Amazing.

There is always 1 key point that most people missed, it is the BEFORE that matters.... imagine if you have been paid millions of dollars before and already amassed a huge stash much more than enough for several retirements, what is being frugal just for the public eye???

For what we know those so called "frugal" CEOs may be having a grand time at home

Much money have been taken from the citizens in all ways and splurged by the big banks in bonuses and commission during the boom time until now when the bubble finally burst but there is no ways to take them to task