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Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

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Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#91

Post by rz2k »

arizoo wrote: post #58
sethbannon wrote: post #4

Full text of his statement: (This is for Groupon employees, but I’m posting it publicly since it will leak anyway) People of Groupon, After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness…

"My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what’s best for our customers." lack of data that overrides intuition? If it was a pile of data I could understand, but lack? That's when intuition come handy no?

I was wondering if it was all the made up numbers he's put out over the years, but that hurt investors rather than customers.

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#93

Post by skulquake »

Overall Andrew has done a awesome job, from just being a guy with a great idea and taking it to be the fastest growing company in history while inventing a new space is quite remarkable. I think everyone on this board would have liked to hit a homerun like this after only a couple hits at the plate.

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#95

Post by lawnchair_larry »

downandout wrote: post #40
sethbannon wrote: post #4

Full text of his statement: (This is for Groupon employees, but I’m posting it publicly since it will leak anyway) People of Groupon, After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness…

Very classy. Keep in mind, though, that it makes is somewhat easier to take being fired in stride when you have a $200 million cushion. He doesn't have to deal with many of the challenges that most newly-fired people do - like finding a job in the not-too-distant future, etc. To be sure, getting kicked out of the company you founded is an emotionally challenging experience, but he can lick his wounds on board a priva…

I liked how down to earth it was, but also thought that he is probably laughing all the way to the bank.

Perhaps not laughing, and I don't mean he was malicious, just that I'd surely have a bit of a snicker if I had a run that was half as good as he did.

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#96

Post by richan90 »

chollida1 wrote: post #48
koenigdavidmj wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since having two CEO:s worked so well for RIM^H^H^HBlackBerry.

To be fair, it worked extremely well for many years. Admittedly when the wheels fell off, they really fell off. I'm not sure you can make a judgement about 2 CEO systems from BBRY.

Google had a triumvirate structure for quite some time, though with one "official" CEO.

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#97

Post by jacques_chester »

larrys wrote: post #9
sethbannon wrote: post #4

Full text of his statement: (This is for Groupon employees, but I’m posting it publicly since it will leak anyway) People of Groupon, After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness…

"My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what’s best for our customers." Otoh Meg Whitman has said something like "if you can't measure it you can't manage it".

Peter Drucker, actually. Also incorrectly attributed to Deming (who, um, would disagree).

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#99

Post by lawnchair_larry »

koenigdavidmj wrote: post #29
kurtvarner wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's being replaced by Executive Chairman Eric Lefkofsky and Vice Chairman Ted Leonisis. They will serve as co-CEOs until they find a permanent replacement. Here is Lefkofsky's statment: On behalf of the entire Groupon Board, I want to thank Andrew for his leadership, his creativity and his deep loyalty to Groupon. As a founder, Andrew helped invent the daily deals space, leading Groupon to become one of the fastest…

Since having two CEO:s worked so well for RIM^H^H^HBlackBerry.

A sample set of one makes for a bad survey.

Re: Andrew Mason's statement about being fired as Groupon CEO

#100

Post by mudge »

juan_juarez wrote: post #83
hyperbovine wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting fired from something you poured your heart and soul into for close to five years, sacrificed relationships, health (+40 lbs), etc., must feel awful. I suspect he really does feel love for many of the people who were in the trenches with him during this time, as he avers in the closing line. Staring at your bulging bank account can only do so much to lessen that pain, at least in the short term.

Staring at an empty bank account, a pile of bills & wondering how you're paying rent next month does a remarkable job at distracting you from the emotional aspect of getting fired as well.

Yes, thank goodness for being broke.
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