earleygallery Posted February 24, 2008 Share #361 Posted February 24, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm absolutely sure he had a good handle on what was going on, but what I said was that he wouldn't - most likely - have been responsible for the pictures on the new website which people don't like and think are the reason he was sacked, or the decision to give a discount on a new lens, or to introduce Summarit lenses........ people are citing things they are unhappy about with the product but they almost certainly are not the reason. So what the hell does a CEO of a company with 1000 employees do, knit socks and play golf, somebody makes decisions and it's not the cleaners. By the way most people have thought the ~Summarits were a good decision. Oh, much more important stuff like choosing the weekly menu in the staff canteen, reviewing the toilet paper suppliers prices, checking that there's enough milk for the coffee break.............. I didn't say that the Summarits were a bad idea did I? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 Hi earleygallery, Take a look here Steven K.Lee gone. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ndjambrose Posted February 24, 2008 Share #362 Posted February 24, 2008 I still believe that the language chosen relates to his handling of employee, dealer and customer relations. Leica has alienated a lot of people in a short time, and introduced a lot of negative press to a previously solid reputation, and whether he caused it directly, or simply failed to straighten it out, he is ultimately responsible, being in charge. There is another possibility, which I hesitate to put forward. Maybe he was hired specifically to get certain unpopular changes pushed through, and was then "let go", according to plan, with language chosen to win back the hearts of those alienated in the process, including other employees. Does anyone know more about the mid-level managers (research, production, optics, communication, and the press contact person), who were let go in the last year or two, like Gero Furchheim? I presume that letting these people go caused a deep rift in the company, which only Lee's leaving could heal, but perhaps this was exactly the plan? Will these people be brought back? Not at all a bad guess. Not sure we'll ever know. But I worked for a while in an Anglo-German company, and a special chief exec was brought in from outside on a 2 year deal specifically to effect a shake-up, including firing previous senior management and reorganising a couple of divisions. After which he bowed out and the old chief exec resumed his former post. The parallels are very close. I personally believe SKL was good news for Leica. It's stronger now that it has been in any time in the last 10 years right across the board - in terms of its financing, its product line and its growth in new customers. He's certainly no fool and made a lot of very assured moves. The people suggesting he was caught in some misdemeanor are way off the mark in my opinion. Frankly ludicrous. And don't forget he hinted at his departure some weeks ago... "whether you're talking to me or my successor..." in describing Photokina. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted February 24, 2008 Share #363 Posted February 24, 2008 I agree, now that I have got a good one, my 75 Summarit is excellent. You see some of us are out taking photos with our Leica M8's and lenses rather than whingeing on a forum. Perhaps some others should get out more. Wilson Oh for goodness sake - if you have such distaste for taking part in the debate on this forum, i suggest YOU get out more! Why on earth does anyone feel they have the right to describe the rest of us that enjoy being here as WHINGERS??? Get out more Wilson - and don't let the door whack you in the backside on your way out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted February 24, 2008 Share #364 Posted February 24, 2008 Eureka, we've cracked it. Mr Lee was shown the door because the toilet roll invoice was too much for the board members to bear and to cap it all there was no milk for their coffee. Gentlemen, this is serious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2008 Share #365 Posted February 24, 2008 Eureka, we've cracked it. Mr Lee was shown the door because the toilet roll invoice was too much for the board members to bear and to cap it all there was no milk for their coffee.Gentlemen, this is serious. Indeed it is. But we have not one whit of influence in this matter. While we wait for normal service to be resumed on Monday, we may as well have a chat over a cup of coffee, eh? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2008 Share #366 Posted February 24, 2008 I agree, now that I have got a good one, my 75 Summarit is excellent. You see some of us are out taking photos with our Leica M8's and lenses rather than whingeing on a forum. Perhaps some others should get out more. Wilson Not all of us are blessed with the weather in St Kitts, Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 24, 2008 Share #367 Posted February 24, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why on earth does anyone feel they have the right to describe the rest of us that enjoy being here as WHINGERS??? I don't believe that Wilson is describing 'the rest of us' - i.e. everyone else other than him - as whingers. His advice of going out and using out cameras is actually very good. I find it very therapeutic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 24, 2008 Share #368 Posted February 24, 2008 Interesting this thread has leapt into the top 10 of thread views in something like 48 hours. Jamie's how to use C1 is still King though, followed by some idiot who took his camera apart... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 25, 2008 Share #369 Posted February 25, 2008 Oh for goodness sake - if you have such distaste for taking part in the debate on this forum, i suggest YOU get out more! Why on earth does anyone feel they have the right to describe the rest of us that enjoy being here as WHINGERS??? Get out more Wilson - and don't let the door whack you in the backside on your way out. Sense of humour failure Plasticman or just a sense failure? If you look back, you will find I have tried to contribute sensibly to this thread, rather than a) flaming people endlessly speculating about things of which I have know personal knowledge c) complaining about things Leica might or might not have done other than again, my own personal poor experience of service. Those are the particular posts that rile me and non-constructive ones just like yours. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted February 25, 2008 Share #370 Posted February 25, 2008 Pretty sad really.... and I'm not talking about the departure of SKL. I'm getting a sense of pent up frustration being unleashed on each other rather than directed at the root cause. Take a deep breath folks, I'm sure in the fullness of time Leica will publish it's road map going forward and Mr SKL will have a chance to set the record straight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted February 25, 2008 Share #371 Posted February 25, 2008 Pretty sad really.... and I'm not talking about the departure of SKL. I'm getting a sense of pent up frustration being unleashed on each other rather than directed at the root cause. Take a deep breath folks, I'm sure in the fullness of time Leica will publish it's road map going forward and Mr SKL will have a chance to set the record straight. Agree wholeheartedly. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted February 25, 2008 Share #372 Posted February 25, 2008 Sense of humour failure Plasticman or just a sense failure? If you look back, you will find I have tried to contribute sensibly to this thread, rather than a) flaming people endlessly speculating about things of which I have know personal knowledge c) complaining about things Leica might or might not have done other than again, my own personal poor experience of service. Those are the particular posts that rile me and non-constructive ones just like yours. Wilson Wilson - maybe if you'd read my posts you wouldn't be responding in this manner, either. There are people (like me) discussing this serious topic on this thread with genuine concern for the possible implications the latest crisis has for our future enjoyment of our cameras and lenses, and for the company generally. Although there may be some worried hand-wringing, I object to the characterisation of the discussion as 'whinging'. As for the supposed 'argument-winner' which consists of posting an image and saying 'go out and take photos instead' which we tend to see often on this forum - let me just say, go ahead and do it - and leave the others to discuss as they wish in peace. Oh and btw - the old chestnut that the other poster 'lacks a sense of humor' - that's the oldest internet-forum dig, too. Please try something new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aXs Posted February 25, 2008 Share #373 Posted February 25, 2008 LEICA BERLIN carstenw: "...That is a good point about brandname ownership. I never thought it that big a deal, to be honest, and I don't see why ywould go up against your flagship dealer over such an issue. Those who have been to the Leica Camera Berlin store know what a sharp design it has, and it could easily represent Leica..." aXs: as I said, "Martin Meister was in continued conflict with Steven K. Lee - also about the promotion of Meister's newly branded Leica Flagship-store in Berlin. (same goes for Toyko and Paris) Leica Berlin: Steven K. Lee wanted the Leica M8 camera to be promoted in-store with creative activity and photo/art related projects - and sponsoring events. Lee was especially keen on unique and creative new product placement concepts for the Leica brand name. ... Leica has alienated a lot of people in a short time, and introduced a lot of negative press... he (Steven K. Lee) is ultimately responsible, being in charge... does anyone know more about... Leica's press contact person...Gero Furchheim? Gero Furchheim was involved with product placement ideas as well as investor relations (banks/financial institutions). Gero Furchheim's name is listed on Leica's corporate website for 'investor relations' (ie Kaufmann's contact man). Axel Axel Sanders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted February 25, 2008 Share #374 Posted February 25, 2008 Steven K.Lee has a few more deaths to go on this forum before he is gone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 25, 2008 Share #375 Posted February 25, 2008 Anyone else think this thread has run it's course? Seems to me that we are exhausted here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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