Wednesday, January 23, 2008

THE RED (FOR EMBARASSED) CROSS

Last week the Red Cross - still reeling from the latest CEO kerfuffle) announced it was riffing its staff by 1000 people but that the cut wouldn't affect services. Hm. The staff bloat was a thousand people. Who is advising these people? The real issue is that fish rots from the head down - meaning the board structure, even though streamlined somewhat, still does not permit of effective governance. Until that changes, if it ever does, it will be difficult if not impossible to attract a CEO who can make a difference. Many have been called but none has survived.

Actually Mark Everson, the ex-IRS head, who had been in the CEO job for less than a year, was showing promise in getting his arms around this monster. Unfortunately, he allegedly had his arms around some of the help.

-- HG

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