In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 6, 2012

Most problems in business begin with leadership. Right away, he replaced the chief operating officer, chief marketing officer, chief technology officer and chief talent officer. Starbucks, Amazon, Google and Apple prove me wrong. Size need not matter. These innovators love playing rocket man.

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Chief Operating Officer Chief Technology Officer CEO Innovation 202

In the CEO Afterlife

JANUARY 20, 2014

The operative word in the question is “YOU.” Human Resources Leadership Life Business CEO Crisis Management Culture In the CEO Afterlife John Richard Bell Mentoring New Year''s Resolutions Resolutions Strategy Vision' When it comes to making change, there are three types of people: drivers, passengers and road kill.

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Constraint Human Resources Crisis Management Short-term 185

In the CEO Afterlife

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

I’ll start with leadership. There might be elements that are worth emulating, but certainly not the ethic of dominance, because by their very nature, small and medium sized operations have no clout. This type of culture emanates from the top and permeates every nook and cranny of the operation. There are far more than you think.

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Competitive Advantage How To Human Resources Strategy 100

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 31, 2011

I began blogging about leadership, strategy, marketing and life last February. There has to be a break from day-to-day operations in the process. In this post, I compare the ineptitude of BP against the leadership of Rudy Giuliani during a much bigger crisis. But as the year closes, I realize that I’ve posted 54 blogs.

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Blog Mission Statement Strategic Planning Brand 222

In the CEO Afterlife

JULY 26, 2016

Many were already in leadership positions or on a fast track to a higher rung on the corporate ladder. Administrative companies can be good at doing things right (operational management) but not so good at doing right things (strategic leadership). Distinguishing Between Two Cultures.

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Brand Learning-by-Doing Brand Management Proposal 100

In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 13, 2012

Jacobs Suchard Directors expected me to run their North American operation as an entrepreneurial enterprise, and as long as the returns were acceptable, they assumed I was doing just that. During my tenure as a CEO, my Board of Directors never challenged me with questions pertaining to corporate culture. I wasn’t surprised in the least.

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Competitive Advantage Long-term CEO Strategy 268

In the CEO Afterlife

APRIL 23, 2012

For most of my career, I operated within intensely competitive arenas where fractions of market share points were worth millions of dollars. It’s not as if RIM were operating in a non-competitive environment. The late French author Andre Maurois once said, “Business is a combination of sport and war.”

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Power Sports Competitive Advantage Advertising 208

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 11, 2011

Leadership. by John • December 11, 2011 • Branding , Leadership , Marketing , Strategy • 1 Comment. Nabob Coffee’s market share accelerated to 25% and national leadership as arch rival Maxwell House worked to catch up. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. Turnarounds and the Big Play.

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In the CEO Afterlife

MARCH 19, 2012

At this point I will gaze into my crystal ball and prophesize the environments in which 21 st century CEOs will operate, a decade from now. Winners prioritize and exercise the principles of great leadership according to the unique needs and the conditions of the enterprise they lead. Business will be more complex.

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CEO Competitive Advantage Teamwork Marketing 204

In the CEO Afterlife

NOVEMBER 20, 2011

Leadership. by John • November 20, 2011 • Branding , Leadership , Marketing , Strategy • 4 Comments. However, it woke up Coke who were forced to look beyond their advertising and instead at their operational strategy. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. November 21, 2011 at 5:08 am.

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CEO Advertising Brand Marketing Strategy 242

In the CEO Afterlife

MARCH 5, 2013

I think she sized up the work force and concluded that her most valuable employees were the ones prepared to come into the operation every day. Mayer would not risk their exit because of this alteration to their working conditions. These are the people who will represent Yahoo’s future.

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Competitive Advantage Reputation Strategy CEO 241

In the CEO Afterlife

JANUARY 14, 2012

Once taken, they co-operatively move forward toward the common goal. They have the ability to disagree and freely do so. This is because P&Gers are intrinsically curious and forever intent on finding the best decision. P&G people are highly competent. This begins with recruiting discipline.

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Proposal Advertising Brand Marketing 260

In the CEO Afterlife

MARCH 21, 2016

Companies who thrive on a fast culture are obsessed with reducing costs and improving operations. This does not leave much room or time for these players to pioneer new technologies or develop their own brands. Pedal to the Metal Mentality. They don’t use their precious time to strategically hypothesize or intellectualize.

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Company Brand Competitive Advantage Retail 145

In the CEO Afterlife

JULY 2, 2012

The new economy doesn’t operate that way. The tactic that works best to defend or build share in the short term is price cuts or special discounts. Be forewarned, this tactic destroys profits. Sure, they work hard at improving their competitive positions within existing markets. But their leaders are farsighted.

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Sports Tactics Competitive Advantage Short-term 228

In the CEO Afterlife

MARCH 26, 2015

Nonetheless, sheer size provides huge economies of scale throughout their operation, especially in production, overheads, distribution and marketing. This good work was performed by the brand builders of the acquired companies. The strategic health of Kraft brands continues to be tenuous. Focus or Scale?

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In the CEO Afterlife

JULY 16, 2015

Despite the necessity for precision in purpose and direction, I see more and more examples of senior business executives operating non-strategically. Tight Strategies Don’t Limit Opportunity. They Create It. We used to refer to this modus operandi as “doing business by the seat of the pants.”

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In the CEO Afterlife

AUGUST 29, 2011

Leadership. by John • August 29, 2011 • Human Resources , Leadership , Strategy • 2 Comments. billion in sales) provides huge economies of scale throughout the operation, especially in production, fixed overheads, distribution and marketing. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. Their size ($49.2

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Strategy CEO Company Competitive Advantage 131

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 26, 2011

Apple’s is all about existing to make awesome products and operating under deep emotional principles. Crafting a company manifesto is no easy task. For the statement to be effective it must: 1. State a Compelling Purpose. Capture Core Values.

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Power Mission Statement Sports Innovation 209

In the CEO Afterlife

APRIL 14, 2011

Leadership. by John • April 14, 2011 • Leadership , Marketing , Strategy • 1 Comment. Leadership. Tags: Leadership , Marketing , Price Fixing , Procter & Gamble , Strategy , Unilever. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. Insider Insight on Price Fixing. Now it is your turn to weigh in. Share it: Tweet.

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In the CEO Afterlife

JULY 24, 2011

Leadership. Marketers operate in a dynamic world. Leadership. Tags: Absolut Vodka , Branding , Leadership , Marketing. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. What Makes ABSOLUT, Absolute? by John • July 24, 2011 • Branding , Marketing • 3 Comments. This often leads to change for change’s sake. About John.

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In the CEO Afterlife

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

Their German-made differentiator affords a high quality image, and for that, Porsche realizes higher operating margin ratios than do Mercedes Benz which produces a wide range of autos in 25 countries. The decline of brand differentiation extends beyond Big Food. Porsche is enjoying a vibrant auto market. German production is expensive.

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Brand Competitive Advantage Fashion Price 100

In the CEO Afterlife

JUNE 10, 2012

The former head of Apple’s retail operations believes the ability to change is the key to success. Van Dyck says this is a habit from her college days when she studied in Cairo and read three newspapers to get multiple perspectives. #4 4 Ron Johnson – CEO JCPenney. Our number one competitor is ourselves.

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Creativity Advertising Belief Systems Storytelling 238

In the CEO Afterlife

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

Leadership. by John • February 5, 2011 • Branding , Leadership , Marketing , Strategy • 1 Comment. But before marketers embark on the operation, they must be sure the patient is in the hands of a capable surgeon. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. Search My Site. Search for: Categories.

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In the CEO Afterlife

JULY 17, 2011

Leadership. by John • July 17, 2011 • Leadership , Strategy • 2 Comments. This is the break from day-to-day operations; it is the organization’s future. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. The Nuts and Bolts of the 1-Page Strategic Plan. The strategic plan is not the annual budget.

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Strategic Planning CEO Planning Real Estate 100

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 11, 2012

In Canada and the United States, there is so much ‘trade money’ offered and generated by volume incentives, co-operative advertising and in-store promotion schemes, that aggressive retailers channel these funds into lowering a brand’s selling price to generate store traffic.

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Price Discount Brand Incentives 162

In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 6, 2016

After months of collective hard work by several stakeholders, a consortium of local investors, the government, the union and the farmers worked out a deal to keep the plant operating by securing a contract to co-pack several products for Heinz. This would save the jobs of 30% of the original workforce.

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Retail Restructuring Brand Ethics 100

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 11, 2012

In Canada and the United States, there is so much ‘trade money’ offered and generated by volume incentives, co-operative advertising and in-store promotion schemes, that aggressive retailers channel these funds into lowering a brand’s selling price to generate store traffic.

Price 148

Price Discount Brand Incentives 148

In the CEO Afterlife

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Jacobs Suchard Directors expected me to run their North American operation as an entrepreneurial enterprise, and as long as the returns were favorable, they assumed I was doing just that. During my tenure as a CEO, my Board of Directors never posed questions pertaining to corporate culture. I wasn’t surprised in the least.

Long-term 100

Long-term Download CEO Objective 100

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 29, 2013

Wal-Mart people can’t deliver that promise without a super-efficient operation. The glue that binds leadership, strategy, and execution is people – quality individuals at the board level, in the C-suite, in the cubicles, on the factory floor, and in the field. Within every successful brand is a core promise.

Marketing 173

Marketing Human Capital Human Resources Brand 173

In the CEO Afterlife

JUNE 13, 2011

Leadership. by John • June 13, 2011 • Human Resources , Leadership , Strategy • 1 Comment. To that end, we must continuously achieve superior financial and operating results while adhering to the highest standards of business conduct. Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. Did you like this?

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Mission Statement CEO Human Resources Brand 209

In the CEO Afterlife

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Leadership. by John • October 17, 2011 • Branding , Human Resources , Leadership , Marketing , Strategy • 3 Comments. CEOs who recognize the reality and are prepared to take corrective action ought to: Ensure they have the best, most experienced talent available for the brand operation. Leadership.

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Brand CEO Stage-Gate SWOT 168

In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 21, 2012

These companies are obsessed with operational details. Companies who play poker well are often not into strategic planning; neither are they obsessively fretting about competitive moves on the strategic game board. Critical to their profitability is nimble and flawless execution, day-in, day-out.

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Tactics Strategic Planning Agility Strategy 220

In the CEO Afterlife

JUNE 19, 2011

Leadership. We operate by the mantra of “use it or you lose it.” Leadership. In the CEO Afterlife. Main menu Home. A Boomer’s Advice to Marketers: Go Ahead, Make My Day. by John • June 19, 2011 • Life , Marketing , Strategy • 1 Comment. This week I turn 65. I can’t believe it. Sure, we have our insecurities.

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Advice Marketing Marketing Strategy Brand 147

In the CEO Afterlife

MARCH 18, 2015

This vision establishes the principles for running a simple operation. Intuit develops financial and tax preparation software for small business, accountants and the general public. Their goal is to make accounting, simple. But Intuit isn’t a small business. billion and record earnings.

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Apparel Brand Franchising Competitive Advantage 100

In the CEO Afterlife

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

One day a year, I worked in various jobs within our coffee roasting operation, side-by-side with union employees. When I was in the corner office, I institutionalized 3 ostensibly minor initiatives that opened my eyes to new possibilities, improved my performance as a leader, and enhanced the company’s competitive position.

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CEO Chief Executive Officer Business Model Competitive Advantage 207

In the CEO Afterlife

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

The creative industry operates largely by holding ‘creative’ people ransom to their own self-image, precarious sense of self-worth, and fragile – if occasionally out of control ego. This has come as quite a shock I can tell you. I think, I’ve come to the conclusion that the whole thing was a bit of a con. An elaborate hoax.

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Advertising Creativity Industry Bottom-up 265

In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 30, 2012

Here are the 5 best bargains in the world of business: Leadership heads the list. This is a corollary to leadership but it is also a core value that must permeate the entire organization. The fact that giant companies don’t operate this way opens the door for the smaller competitor. People with the right mindsets create magic.

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Bureaucracy Constraint Creativity Discount 245