Comments on: Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: GM CEO Rick Wagoner Fired Himself

By: Bunter1

Bunter1 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:17:28 +0000

“Just a simple re-arrangement of the deck chairs ON the Titanic.”

Spot-on.

If this IS true, it probably changes nothing.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:54:08 +0000

Just when I think GM can’t surprise me they manage to top themselves. Detroit auto execs never cease to amaze, and I don’t mean in a good way as in great products.

By: truthbetold37

truthbetold37 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:11:49 +0000

Na na na na
Na na na na
Hey hey hey
Goodbye

By: Cicero

Cicero — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:06:44 +0000

“Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Geneva auto show, Mr. Wagoner outlined what his role will be in the auto maker’s hierarchy, saying that he will focus on global growth, advanced technologies and environmental lobbying…”

Mr. Wagoner will also be checking the toilet paper in the men’s room and making sure all the lights are off when everyone leaves the buildng.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:47:09 +0000

This is just about spreading the blame so that his ability to earn and influence doesn’t die soon.

By: Mcloud1

Mcloud1 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:19:14 +0000

I hope its true. I have been rooting for Wagoner to get canned since 2004.

By: gawdodirt

gawdodirt — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:00:05 +0000

Just a simple re-arrangement of the deck chairs ON the Titanic.

This is an example of what CAN happen when the “Golden Parachutes” aren’t tied to actual business performance. And they won’t be as long as the board of directors comes from OTHER HUGE companies that embrace this philosophy.
And so it goes…

The list is long.

GW
Enron
Ford
Chrysler

etc.

By: Ralph SS

Ralph SS — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:16:42 +0000

“Instead of going to war with the redundant dealers, just starve them off like Isuzu did. Give each one or two obviously badge engineered product with no marketing and no custom sheet-metal and watch them go away.”

What the hell do we think they’ve been doing the last 20 years?

By: starlightmica (Richard Chen)

starlightmica (Richard Chen) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:15:21 +0000

Did the Board of Bystanders actually give Rick a nudge, or RR pull a Bill Ford and move out under his own power(less)?

By: mel23

mel23 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:11:58 +0000

I agree that Saturn should be the first to go, but see no indications that Wagoner & company are even thinking about it. In fact, I see more signs that the BPG dealers are being starved. Of course given the incompetence involved, it’s hard to tell what their wishes are. If most of what Saturn has gotten recently had been directed primarily to Buick or Pontiac, their dealers would be in better shape.

By: Pch101

Pch101 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:51:04 +0000

This is a good news. The Titanic orchestra was in desperate need of a new second violinist.

The plan is clear — Wagoner’s goal is to line his golden parachute with frequent flyer miles that he can use for free travel throughout his retirement. Sounds like a solid business plan to me.

By: jthorner

jthorner — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:38:51 +0000

Great, put another finance guy in charge. Maybe there is a silver lining though. Maybe a tough finance guy will finally realize that GM’s only hope in the US is to go all in on Chevrolet and Cadillac while not spending ANOTHER PENNY supporting the dead man walking Saturn, Buick, Pontiac and GMC brands. Roll Hummer into the Chevrolet lineup as a couple of models. Setting up a whole new dealer network for Hummer was absolutely stupid.

Instead of going to war with the redundant dealers, just starve them off like Isuzu did. Give each one or two obviously badge engineered product with no marketing and no custom sheet-metal and watch them go away.

Saturn gets my vote as the first to do away with. Let ‘em have the overpriced quirky Astra to choke on. Even Saturn executives say the Astra is unlikely to sell as well as the Ion did. Wow, that is a low bar. The Ion was a dud. Saturn has never made a profit for GM. Never. It distracted the heritage brands from doing what they needed to do to compete and win.

Forget about targeting “import intenders” and “domestic intenders”. Those old divisions of the marketplace need to be retired in the mind of companies. Make great products and market them brilliantly.