Steven K. Lee gone !

[Cron]

I got an actual newsletter - Steven K. Lee is no more in Leica business!

[Uwe_Nds]

http://www.visavis.de/modules.php?na...s&djn_id=50809
Looks like it.

Best regards,
Uwe

[mr_phillip]

Blimey!!! That's what you get for blabbering about full-frame M8s.

I wonder if that godawful flash intro to the website did for him*–*it was certainly a sackable offense for someone.

[BNF]

He only started in November 2006 - that's only c15 months at the helm.

This is really an intriguing development, IMO. I really wonder if the volume, big box background that was apparently part of what got him in, ultimately pushed him out.

It's rarely a good sign when the CEO is relieved. I'm glad my paycheck doesn't depend on Leica.

[sakebalboa]

Originally Posted by mr_phillip

Blimey!!! That's what you get for blabbering about full-frame M8s.

I wonder if that godawful flash intro to the website did for him*–*it was certainly a sackable offense for someone.

seriously that flash intro is in such poor taste and freaking loud too.

[ZebGoesZeiss]

Well, I hope they didn't sack the CEO over a friggin shutter!
I hope they have the PR dept. working overtime...

[veraikon]

The "official news":

22.02.2008 12:31

DGAP-Adhoc:
Leica Camera AG: Personelle Änderungen im Vorstand
Leica Camera AG / Personalie

22.02.2008

Veröffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung nach § 15 WpHG, übermittelt durch die DGAP - ein Unternehmen der EquityStory AG. Für den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Der Aufsichtsrat der Leica Camera AG hat am heutigen Tage Herrn Steven K. Lee als Mitglied und Vorsitzenden des Vorstands der Leica Camera AG mit sofortiger Wirkung abberufen.

Gleichzeitig hat der Aufsichtsrat Herrn Dr. Andreas Kaufmann zum weiteren Mitglied des Vorstands sowie zum Vorsitzenden des Vorstands, und zwar für die Zeit bis zum 28. Februar 2009, bestellt. Herr Dr. Andreas Kaufmann wird die Gesellschaft zunächst gemeinsam mit Herrn Andreas Lobejäger leiten. Herr Dr. Kaufmann ist berechtigt, die Gesellschaft allein zu vertreten.

http://financial.de/newsroom/news_d/132777.html


and here the non official:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...tml#post491070

[mr_phillip]

I did wonder when he dropped that classic "CE-Oh no he didn't!" moment at PMA how long he'd last, especially after hearing how horrified the attending Leica marketing bods were. Doesn't he remember the Osborne One?

[BillBingham2]

Not good at all. I read this as he may have gotten the sack for wanting to do the right thing for us. Ugh!

B2 (;->

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by BillBingham2

Not good at all. I read this as he may have gotten the sack for wanting to do the right thing for us. Ugh!

B2 (;->

Or possibly for expressing personal opinions, at odds with technical possibility, once too often?

Cheers,

R.

[BillBingham2]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Or possibly for expressing personal opinions, at odds with technical possibility, once to often?

Cheers,

R.

Could be, but I've always found that technology and people can rise to the occasion when led. Pushing often results in sub optimal results. My read is that the board heard negatives from marketing/sales and decided that their purse fattening was more important than the vision and the customer.

B2 (;->

[naos]

I wonder what this means for the future of Leica.....?

[lemalk]

Here's my guess -
"Leica is proud to now announce the M9!*"


*The previous offer of the M8 upgrade expiration date of "infinity" has now been changed to February, 20th, 2008. We apologize for any inconvenience.

[mr_phillip]

Originally Posted by BillBingham2

My read is that the board heard negatives from marketing/sales and decided that their purse fattening was more important than the vision and the customer.

B2 (;->

I suspect there's more to it than that, although likely we'll never know what's really happened, but I had heard from multiple sources that you'd be hard pressed to find anyone within Leica who had a good word to say about him (in a professional sense).

More importantly though, it'll be fascinating to see where they go from here. Who they hire to replace Lee, or promote, will surely be a strong indication of the company's future direction.

[tomasis]

THANKS GOD because LEe is SLR user, hehe

[Mackinaw]

Back in the 1970's, Henry Ford II, then CEO of The Ford Motor Company, fired second-in-command-and-heir-apparent Lee Iacocca with the reason, "I just didn't like him."

This stuff happens all the time in industry. Whether it's a good move or bad move? I guess we'll find out.

Jim B.

[BNF]

Kaufmann is under no obligation to replace Lee as CEO.

Herr Dr. Kaufmann ist berechtigt, die Gesellschaft allein zu vertreten.

[nikonhswebmaster]

Originally Posted by emraphoto

if leica sacks the m8 upgrade program this will be the last leica camera i buy...

Oh I think you will find it will be just the opposite.

Although how much longer this will go on for is anyone's guess. Leica seems to be going the way of Lamborghini, no telling where it will finally stop. I keep hoping Panasonic.

Even with their flaws has anyone noticed where Nikon (and even Olympus) has gone to in the last year? A hard road for Leica to forge on alone. I am amazed by the M8 frankly, an incredible handmade digital camera, it looks like something out of Mad Max.

[RF-Addict]

For a german company to fire their CEO is very significant - this does not happen every day. There must have been major disagreements between Kaufmann and Lee and the rest of the board. I am certain we will hear some sort of announcement in the near future that will contradict what Lee has previously said. We'll find out soon enough.

[lemalk]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

...Leica seems to be going the way of Lamborghini, no telling where it will finally stop. I keep hoping Panasonic.

Even with their flaws has anyone noticed where Nikon (and even Olympus) has gone to in the last year? A hard road for Leica to forge on alone on.

I agree with you wholeheartedly here.
I think Panasonic would respect the Leica heritage. They have so far in terms of their partnership.

Other optical or camera manufacturers would, I think, butt heads with Leica over direction, vision, niche, market, etc.

But then again, maybe Leica likes being an exclusive luxury brand.
Maybe Hermes will buy them again.

[xayraa33]

Mr. Lee was not moving the company fast enough on the full frame DRF development.
Leica has gotten wind that a certain other firm is already on track on the full frame DRF creation front.

[lemalk]

Originally Posted by xayraa33

Leica has gotten wind that a certain other firm is already on track on the full frame DRF creation front.

Aww, c'mon! You can't just TEASE like that! Who would this other firm be?

[nikonhswebmaster]

Originally Posted by xayraa33

Mr. Lee was not moving the company fast enough on the full frame DRF development.
Leica has gotten wind that a certain other firm is already on track on the full frame DRF creation front.

Yes Leica is just in an impossible place. Nikon proved recently that they can toss off a rangefinder, with a new lens, on a whim, and in a limited (2500 pieces) run, and still not lose any sleep over it.



If Nikon decided to bring out a full frame digital RF and 10 lenses they could do it without breathing hard.

[mr_phillip]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

Leica seems to be going the way of Lamborghini, no telling where it will finally stop.

Funny, Leica these days remind more more of Morgan than Lambo. The same ongoing development of an obsolete technology, the same fanatical (and often irrational) user base, the same gleeful out-of-step-with-the-rest-of-the-market stance that confuses the piss out of Joe Public (and must drive their marketing department nuts). The M8 even had that same retro-modern 'this is as high-tech as we get' feel to it that the newer Morgans have.

Actually, all that writing this post has done is make me want a Morgan to go with my Leica Ms

[BillBingham2]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

Even with their flaws has anyone noticed where Nikon (and even Olympus) has gone to in the last year?

From what I can see (from the cheap seats) both Nikon and Olympus have brought out new DSLRs with strong improvements. While Nikon seems to have strong allegiance to their established lens owners, Olympus is strongly pushing the "Open" 4/3s standard. The D3, D300 and E3 seem to have hit a home runs to their target markets. The D300 has many D200 users upgrading which seems to be an unusual thing in the medium to high end DSLR space. Both are following Canons lead at broadening the price range of available DSLRs with strong offerings. Nikon perhaps a bit more than Olympus. Both seem to be spinning the consumer cameras out the door every six months, necessary to keep cash coming in the door.

Having been in industry for way too many years I've seen and experienced a lot of stupid reasons to remove senior management and executives. Usually the higher up it is the more there needs to be a material reason, unless you are working for a Ford or a Kennedy. But I do think that if an executive gets a bug in their bonnet they can create something without too much problem. I've had it done to me and it was not a lot of fun.

Fred, what's your take? I'd love to hear.

B2 (;->