RE: Charles Morgan: game over
Discussion
belleair302 said:
Le Mans is vital for Asian exposure..
Just how many people with the money to buy a Morgan in Asia (keep in mind taxes will be anywhere from 100% to 200%) will buy based on a non-related model racing at Le Mans?One of the designers of a popular, pricey area in Shanghai Morgan set up a tiny showroom and has two Morgans squeezed in. The three-wheeler has people stopping in their tracks and gets FAR more attention than anything they'd do at Le Mans which, if I am honest, none of the target market here will be pay attention to. They key is getting the cars out to the right events to be seen while spending time educating the market on the history of the company, what makes it special and of course the craft that goes into making this unique car.
Le Mans is very nice be a part of (especially for CM I'd imagine) and of some importance to European buyers, but definitely not in any way vital to sales in Asia. In my experience and IMO of course
Edited by Justices on Friday 1st November 10:37
Using the word cool as a criticism of CM and the Gumball, hmm happy days. It’s such a shame that this has happened. Morgan’s USP is partly based on the fact that it was an eccentric family run company that continued to thrive. The British car manufacturing industry is littered with bad decision made at board level contributing to so many factory closures.
toppstuff said:
The Vambo said:
In the CM years, Morgan lost more 'tradition' than ever before.
Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry
I would debate whether Morgan lost tradition by (re-)introducing the 3-wheeler, the Aeromax and competing again at LeMans under CM's watch. I agree that doing the Gumball was total error of judgement if CM did it on company time and funds although the board are all culpable if it was sanctioned there (as ti would seem to have been as it was all over their official website). I think the company will be fine long-term but it (and CM) could have handled the whole thing in a more dignified manner, avoiding the glare of unwelcome publicity and the possible result that some of its existing and potential customers are questioning the future of Morgan.Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry
Edited by f1colin on Friday 1st November 10:53
Edited by f1colin on Friday 1st November 10:54
theironduke said:
Who is the senior man at Morgan now then? out of interest.
His name is Steve Morris and he has worked is way up from the shop floor to his current role as MD. I've had personal dealings with Steve along with other's here on PH and he's a good guy with the interests of the Company at heart.
I've seen a few comments on the family involvement and ownership at Morgan if you follow the link MMC Organisation and scroll down you'll see how the business is set up along with the ownership.
The Vambo said:
johnOjohn said:
I think mentions of takeovers by hedge funds and mainstream manufacturers may be somewhat overestimating the value and significance of Morgan.
Look at businesses such as Ducati - picked up by a PE firm and sold on. Or Belstaff - obscure, crusty old biker jacket company , now a part of an Italian owned luxury goods company and with precious little of its heritage intact.
Morgan as brand around the world punches above it weight. Cars, clothing, accessories, all with thousands of customers around the world including the US and Germany - two of the most attractive markets in which to invest, as well as a foothold in China.
Morgan is potentially worth a fortune IMO. Equally, someone could lose a fortune. These risks are what makes the private equity firms excited.
Edited by toppstuff on Friday 1st November 12:26
In my opinion, all great cars and car companies have a single authoritative figure pushing brand direction and/or styling. Think Peter Wheeler, Gordon Murray, Peter Stevens, Malcolm Sayer, Luca Di Montezemolo, even Chris Bangle. Christ, Dany Bahar had a vision, even if it was clearly insane.
Charles Morgan, despite his alleged faults, appeared to be performing in that role at Morgan. The question is, with him out of the way, is the direction of the company going to be decided by committee? Even at Morgan which can probably get by for some time with negligable product development, this would be a bad thing IMHO.
Charles Morgan, despite his alleged faults, appeared to be performing in that role at Morgan. The question is, with him out of the way, is the direction of the company going to be decided by committee? Even at Morgan which can probably get by for some time with negligable product development, this would be a bad thing IMHO.
toppstuff said:
The Vambo said:
Oh dry your f
king eyes.
THE most arrogant, self pitying, limp wristed post I have ever read.
In the CM years, Morgan lost more 'tradition' than ever before.
Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry.
You may well have to eat these words if Morgan ends up being sold to a private equity company and turned into a leather clothing brand with cars on the side... king eyes.THE most arrogant, self pitying, limp wristed post I have ever read.
In the CM years, Morgan lost more 'tradition' than ever before.
Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry.
Its not out of the question.
I've read stories about the demise of Morgan for 30 years or so, the doomsayers pointing to the antiquated product and the low production levels. But these are the reasons Morgan survive. It costs too much to produce something modern and different and there are plenty of other manufacturers doing that with varying levels of success. There will always be a niche market for something left-field like a Morgan. Two things could kill them. Either safety/emission regulations getting tighter in the future or the Board getting greedy and wanting to make a quick buck rather than making a decent living for many years to come.
As cars get more and more alike and more anodyne I think there'll be a place for Morgan as long as they don't change too much.
As cars get more and more alike and more anodyne I think there'll be a place for Morgan as long as they don't change too much.
asbojohn said:
theironduke said:
Who is the senior man at Morgan now then? out of interest.
His name is Steve Morris and he has worked is way up from the shop floor to his current role as MD. I've had personal dealings with Steve along with other's here on PH and he's a good guy with the interests of the Company at heart.
I did meet a man in charge a few times. Matthew Parkin. Very impressive. What position does he hold?
Matthew Parkin was one of the four man management team set up in 2003 to replace Peter Morgan; has since left the company. The company has been run by a non-family member before in recent history, Alan Garnett was the MD between 2003-2006; it did survive, despite not having a 'Morgan' at the helm.
CM has been a bit of a git.
The board tried to move him sideways, quietly, giving him the title of "brand ambassador", and no public criticism.
He then threw his toys out of the pram in a very public hissy fit.
Then says it is very dissapointing for "my family and myself" - does that include the family members on the board that sacked him?
Finally, all this speculation about venture capitalists, sell-outs etc. - it is CM who says his "philosophy to modernise the company" was rejected by the current management - maybe he wanted to turn Morgan into a clothing range and they disagreed? Just as plausible as the speculation that that's what the current management want.
The board tried to move him sideways, quietly, giving him the title of "brand ambassador", and no public criticism.
He then threw his toys out of the pram in a very public hissy fit.
Then says it is very dissapointing for "my family and myself" - does that include the family members on the board that sacked him?
Finally, all this speculation about venture capitalists, sell-outs etc. - it is CM who says his "philosophy to modernise the company" was rejected by the current management - maybe he wanted to turn Morgan into a clothing range and they disagreed? Just as plausible as the speculation that that's what the current management want.
greatmalvern said:
Matthew Parkin was one of the four man management team set up in 2003 to replace Peter Morgan; has since left the company. The company has been run by a non-family member before in recent history, Alan Garnett was the MD between 2003-2006; it did survive, despite not having a 'Morgan' at the helm.
The Management Team was set up to replace Alan Garnett (not Peter) in 2006 (not 2003). CM managed to oust him in 2006. (No reasons given.) Peter died in 2003 and Garnett was named to replace him in that year. There is a tale told that Peter retired in 1999..but no one who knew Peter would ever believe that rubbish. The truth was that Charles, with the support of his sisters and mother, ousted Peter from control over the subject of the Aero. Peter kept driving into the office until a few weeks before he died. Sad way to pass in hindsight. Charles had forced Peter to mortgage the property a few months before.
Matthew Parkin was a Company director for 10 years and employee for much longer. He was a key member of the Management Team and in charge of for the growth of the Morgan market and dealer relations. Parkin was ousted from office by CM and his fellow Team members in 2010. (No reasons given.)
Edited by mulligan on Sunday 3rd November 13:45
mulligan said:
The Management Team was set up to replace Alan Garnett (not Peter) in 2006 (not 2003). CM managed to oust him in 2006. (No reasons given.) Peter died in 2003 and Garnett was named to replace him in that year.
There is a tale told that Peter retired in 1999..but no one who knew Peter would ever believe that rubbish. The truth was that Charles, with the support of his sisters and mother, ousted Peter from control over the subject of the Aero. Peter kept driving into the office until a few weeks before he died. Sad way to pass in hindsight. Charles had forced Peter to mortgage the property a few months before.
Matthew Parkin was a Company director for 10 years and employee for much longer. He was a key member of the Management Team and in charge of for the growth of the Morgan market and dealer relations. Parkin was ousted from office by CM and his fellow Team members in 2010. (No reasons given.)
You are correct, I had meant to say that Alan Garnett was part of the four man management team set up in 2003 after Peter's death, not Parkin. That four man team consisted of Charles Morgan, Steve Morris, Tim Whitworth and Alan Garnett. The latter ran things until 2006; so as previously stated, Morgan did have a non-Morgan running the show for a while, apparently with no long lasting ill effects. Lets face it, Steve Morris has been running the company for the past year anyway, not CM!There is a tale told that Peter retired in 1999..but no one who knew Peter would ever believe that rubbish. The truth was that Charles, with the support of his sisters and mother, ousted Peter from control over the subject of the Aero. Peter kept driving into the office until a few weeks before he died. Sad way to pass in hindsight. Charles had forced Peter to mortgage the property a few months before.
Matthew Parkin was a Company director for 10 years and employee for much longer. He was a key member of the Management Team and in charge of for the growth of the Morgan market and dealer relations. Parkin was ousted from office by CM and his fellow Team members in 2010. (No reasons given.)
Edited by mulligan on Sunday 3rd November 13:45
greatmalvern said:
You are correct, I had meant to say that Alan Garnett was part of the four man management team set up in 2003 after Peter's death, not Parkin. That four man team consisted of Charles Morgan, Steve Morris, Tim Whitworth and Alan Garnett. The latter ran things until 2006; so as previously stated, Morgan did have a non-Morgan running the show for a while, apparently with no long lasting ill effects. Lets face it, Steve Morris has been running the company for the past year anyway, not CM!
Respectfully, that is not correct. Alan Garnett replaced Peter Morgan as sole Chairman of Morgan in 2003. (The firm has had four Chairman in its history, Prebendary H. George Morgan, the original investor and HFS' father, then HFS Morgan, Peter Morgan and finally Alan Garnett. Garnett was picked by Peter as a director in 1998. He is an automobile professional http://www.carpages.co.uk/morgan/morgan_new_execut...After Garnett was ousted, the Four Man Team was created in 2006 and was made up of Charles Morgan, Matthew Parkin, Tim Whitworth and Steve Morris. The shareholders never named a replacement Chairman (previously the ultimate decision maker at the Works) and Morgan has been without one since 2006. The Team ran the company by unanimous vote. In 2010, the others in the Team got rid of Mr. Parkin as they have now gotten rid of CM.
Edited by mulligan on Sunday 3rd November 15:33
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff