Here's another reason to appreciate the ruthless nature of Michael Eisner.
"We're seeing executives begin to show quiet leadership, a 'we're all in this together' attitude," Mr. McGurn [special counsel at Institutional Shareholder Services, a group that monitors corporate boards] said. "It's not what we used to see."Particularly galling, Mr. McGurn said, was Mr. Eisner's testimony regarding an interview by Larry King in 1996 on his CNN talk show, when Mr. Eisner told Mr. King that he would hire Mr. Ovitz again if given the opportunity. In truth, Mr. Eisner was then asking Mr. Ovitz to try to get a job at the Sony Corporation.
"That's something there is zero tolerance for today," Mr. McGurn said. "To be presented with a question and you point-blank lie, that's a kiss of death." (During the trial, Mr. Eisner said he regretted his remarks. He was hoping that Sony would buy out Mr. Ovitz's contract.)
Classy guy, no?
After the Ovitz Trial: Ushering in a New Era of Humility in Hollywood [nytimes.com]
