Can we hear from anyone who supports Eisner?

[SpaceAce]

I am somebody who is not oblivious to the fact that I know little about many subjects. I know for sure that I do not know both sides of the Michael Eisner debate. (Meaning whether he should still head Disney.)

Therefore, I have not truly formulated an opinion about Michael Eisner, as I have only heard the negative. I was wondering if anybody here supports Michael Eisner and could tell us why?

Thanks...

 

[4407mark]

Just as soon as he decides to resign he'll have my full support.

 

[dvccruiser]

let me start by saying I went to wdw in the 70's and Epcot the first year it opened all with my grand parents.
Have been to wdw 7 time and 3 cruises the past 12 years as an adult and a dvc member. So I believe my resume for comparison is solid althought as much as some lucky lucky folks.
I think he has run a company the size of disney rather well in the past several years. I will say that in his ealier years he had some serious errors in judgement .
The parks have grown larger and more e rides in fewer years then ever. The cruises are top notch the hotels and dvc resorts are top notch. you can nit pick all you want overall take any park set up even half it size and it will rate better then any of them.
Safety is not even an issue I feel safer there then the center of any city (it is the size and pop of most cities) in the us.
Enough about the parks.
He runs a solid company with all the managment scandels in the last few years I have never heard of any in the disney higher ups.
As far as the larry king interview you put any ceo up there and see if they do any better remember its a billion dollar company.
I dont even know more then a hand full of other billion dollar companys ceos. The stock is going up and everything is still growing.
You cant compare a man like walt to anyone he was from a different time and never had to deal with the new economy.
You cant replace a legend. Which ME is not he is trying to run a
company and keep the legend alive for others.
Compare ME to modern day ceos all others have one task MAKE MONEY ME has to make money and please millions of people a year.
I have never posted anything like this before but am getting
tired of people blaming the top man. most companies have outsourced everything while dinsey does what it can to keep it under one roof.
I am having a new child this year which means will will not be goping home. But cant wait to take my child to wdw when hes ready beacuse I know its in good hands>
PS i have never met or know any one that has met Me or do I work for disney I work in manufacturing and if you want to see some just bottom line compianies look at that sector.

 

[Goofyposter]

Welcome to the DIS.....DVCcruiser! I see this is your first post!

i have never met or know any one that has met Me

well.....I can't say the same....but to answer the OP's question.....

I think ME is supported by those who recall his impact on stockvalue within the first 8-10 years of his tenure.

Or, people who DO work for Disney that have kissed butt enough to be on his good side.

Or, people who have family that work for various parts of the company and are afraid that anything they say that might be percived against ME could result in their family member's financial termination.

Anyone who's a public figure (including CEO's of Fortune 500 companies) develop groupies...who think their 'beau' can do no wrong.

Many people familar with how ME operates within the company, unless they simply roll over infront of his desires may not share your opinion that he's managed the company well over the past several years.

If you have not, and if you're willing to keep an open mind, I'd suggest that you spend some time at savedisney.com

specifically their web presention of ME's effect on the 'sucess' of the company over the past several years...you can find that at:

SaveDisney's Assesment of Management Performance

 

[dvccruiser]

I do think he can do wrong he has had good and bad ideas.
I dont know much about him except what Ive read on cnn fox and other news sources.
As far as savedisney it has some great ideas but some are just possilble in todays world. But what i do like is when 2 groups on opposite ends square off the important points get some good air time like this.
I think now is not the time for change he should run out his current contract and the board should take the time he has let to find the right new guy. He has the drive and knowldege to keep
disney independent and on the level.
Is disney that bad come on attendence up stock up dcl up epsn up abc down. Alls not great but I know most of you like me cant wait to go back.
One good thing is he is looking to leave his mark just look at the new stuff coming to parks.

 

[SpaceAce]

bump

 

[honeymom]

No, I have nothing to say to support Eisner.

However, I will support John Bryson. None of the major investors has gone along with Roy's recommendation to oust JB. Roy recommends ousting him for the sole reason that his wife works for Lifetime.

I worked with his wife many years ago and met JB on several social occassions. He is an asset to any board. He is an environmentalist, as well as a businessperson. So many people are upset with ME for all of the negatives, including maintenance going downhill, etc. He is probably the one member on the board who would be concerned with these issues.

As far as his wife working at Lifetime. Her compensation is in line with her position. She is paid well, because a: she is good at her job b: she is a pleasure to work even if you are a low level employee as I was. She is the type of boss that people dream of:mentoring, appreciative, friendly, professional. I considered her more than a boss, I considered her a friend. Her entire family, including JB, were extremely down-to-earth. I was actually surprised when I found out through a mutual friend who well to do and connected they were. I had been working with Louise for about 2 years already and never had a clue.

I am sure that JB can easily recuse himself from decisions that pertain to Lifetime. It is not like he put his wife in her position, she's been there for years.

At the very least, before you vote on the proxy based solely on what Roy Disney has to say - check out the major investor recommendations, plus try to ascertain what different board members records are. Also, I suggest you read the article on Roy Disney that ran in last Sunday's NY Times magazine section. I'm sure you can still get it online. Be educated and aware of all sides of the issues. It is easy to get passionate when the name Disney is attached to a viewpoint, but it behooves shareholders to ask questions and understand the people that they are voting on.

 

[jimmytammy]

37% of shareholders are witholding votes for Eisner this morning according to CNBC Squawk Box. Thats a good sizable chunk of dissatisfied shareholders. I think you will find a few very strong sympathisers on these boards with 10 times as many against him.

 

[DemoBri1]

I will vote "Yes" for Eisner, if it means keeping Comcast out of the picture. Comcast would be the death nail of Disney as a "whole".

Now if something more intriguing comes up where Disney can "survive" as an entity then I may re-think my opinion, such as a Disney/Pixar merger.

 

[raidermatt]

I will vote "Yes" for Eisner, if it means keeping Comcast out of the picture. Comcast would be the death nail of Disney as a "whole".

These are NOT directly related. There are scenarios where Comcast gets their way with Eisner getting a confidence vote as well as with him not getting a confidence vote.


Edited for grammar.... there, their, its all good, right?

 

[hopemax]

How does a YES vote for Eisner, help Disney remain independent?

The news is now reporting that there will be an over 30% NO vote. All those NO votes are going to be who Comcast starts targetting if Eisner stays. And most of those NO's are the large institutions who only care about their investement, Disney's independance isn't on their radar. And even if they decide that they don't like Comcast, Eisner staying may signal them it's time to dump their Disney shares, dropping the stock price making it easier for Comcast or another company to take Disney over

IMO, the best chance Disney has to remain independent is for the board to respect the NO votes and replace Eisner with someone that those major institutions would feel could do a better job than Comcast. Several analysts have also suggested that Eisner's continued presence is keeping a lid on the stock price, and if he were to leave the stock would jump up 5-10 points just because Eisner isn't there. A higher stock price would make Disney less desirable to other companies.

 

[Chuck S]

Several analysts have also suggested that Eisner's continued presence is keeping a lid on the stock price, and if he were to leave the stock would jump up 5-10 points just because Eisner isn't there.

It could also just as easily lead to uncertainty about the companies future, causing the stock price to plummet and allowing Comcast to step in an make a quick grab.

 

[Goofyposter]

It could also just as easily lead to uncertainty about the companies future, causing the stock price to plummet and allowing Comcast to step in an make a quick grab.

Actually, the stock's generally upward bias since the instutional holders have started to annouce that they've "lost all confidence" in Mr. Eisner -shows that the market generally supports his departure.

After comcast last big acquisition, they are not likely going to get their shareholders to approve an offer which they'd need to tender to buy WDC because of their concern (rightfully) over dilution.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Goofyposter
Actually, the stock's generally upward bias since the instutional holders have started to annouce that they've "lost all confidence" in Mr. Eisner -shows that the market generally supports his departure.

Maybe ... maybe not. The market as a whole has had a generally upward tick in the past week or so, so you can't necessarily say that Disney's upward bias is soley a factor of the institutional holders statements. Disney stock has generally followed the market as a whole through this entire cycle, with the exception of the days directly following the Comcast bid.

 

[Goofyposter]

Maybe ... maybe not. The market as a whole has had a generally upward tick in the past week or so, so you can't necessarily say that Disney's upward bias is soley a factor of the institutional holders statements.

I'm inclined to think more 'maybe' than 'not'.....as you know, the market generally hates uncertainity.
When a stock that's a compoenet of the DJIA has major stockholders publicly saying 'we don't trust you anymore' - one would logically expect the stock to tank!....why hasn't it?
The only thing that's different is the commonly held perception that the value of the company would go up without Eisner at the helm, or at the very least that the market presumes with a break between COB and CEO/a new audit committee/ or other major changes the company can appreciate.

 

[raidermatt]

Maybe ... maybe not. The market as a whole has had a generally upward tick in the past week or so, so you can't necessarily say that Disney's upward bias is soley a factor of the institutional holders statements. Disney stock has generally followed the market as a whole through this entire cycle, with the exception of the days directly following the Comcast bid.

So it would appear that at the least, the market is not worried about a no confidence vote.

Or, it could be that the Comcast offer is what's holding the price up. Nobody really thinks Comcast has given up.

I'm sure there is a lot more going on behind the scenes, but ON THE SURFACE, it looks like Comcast could have erred.

If a no-confidence vote in Eisner really would have created uncertainty and hurt the stock price, then Comcast jumped the gun with their offer, underestimating the number of 'withhold' votes that would come out.

I don't think for a minute that is the whole story, and perhaps not what happened at all, but it's a possibility.