Re: Charles Morgan fights back
Discussion
Gaspode said:
There's an interesting take on it in this blog:
http://themakingprogressblues.wordpress.com/2013/1...
Good stuff, until it started spouting the same old guff about TVR and why it failed, and how that failure was nothing whatsoever to do with Peter Wheeler. http://themakingprogressblues.wordpress.com/2013/1...
Irritating.
_Neal_ said:
Good stuff, until it started spouting the same old guff about TVR and why it failed, and how that failure was nothing whatsoever to do with Peter Wheeler.
Irritating.
I don't know much about the background to the TVR failure, and I assumed it was much as the blogger described. Could you point me in the direction of some other explanations? Genuine interest here, I'm not trying to trigger any kind of argument Irritating.
Gaspode said:
I don't know much about the background to the TVR failure, and I assumed it was much as the blogger described. Could you point me in the direction of some other explanations? Genuine interest here, I'm not trying to trigger any kind of argument
Let's definitely avoid an argument about TVR on this thread (sorry for bringing it up, but couldn't resist) It's been done to death on these forums, and there's certainly two sides to the story. If you do a search they'll be tons of threads, but basically TVR was in decline, and was IIRC loss making and in bad shape, with slumping sales, before Smolensky bought it.
Tuna said:
sad61t said:
All utter speculation. Chilli was served for lunch.
Or... (if we're truly making things up and you're not dressing up insider knowledge as speculation)..- Charles Morgan successfully turns the company round after a decade or more in the doldrums
- Morgan is now a 'prestige brand' rather than just a classic motor company
- Sister and her husband have received a substantial foreign offer for the whole company and want to sell up.
- CM wants to stay put and keep the company in the family.
- CM ungratefully receives his windfall (he remains a shareholder, after all).
- CM takes his reputation and cash to Zenos.
Battle at dawn!
It seems to me that either the other shareholders think he is useless at what he does or, alternatively, he and they have differents views on the way ahead - either stay small or expand. Which ever it is they concluded it was better for the business he was not there.
The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
It seems to me that either the other shareholders think he is useless at what he does or, alternatively, he and they have differents views on the way ahead - either stay small or expand. Which ever it is they concluded it was better for the business he was not there.
The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
Drclarke said:
There must be more to this than meets the eye. .
YesJohnT993 said:
I like the idea that people on the shop floor would be consulted on who is best placed to run a £30m turnover company!
Oh indeed, but equally its normal to make an announcement about such a change to the work force before/while going to the press with it. Thats what happens in our company, which other than being 100 times larger than morgan, otherwise shared a lot of similarities.Daniel
Full story - who knows?
But Charles did rather alarm his directors when he announced to Autocar that the 3-Wheeler's wishbones were no good and would be replaced at no cost - that was well before any investigation into the cause of the magazine's accident was undertaken. That specific car had already been involved in an accident and so the knee-jerk reaction was felt to potentially kiss goodbye to profits unnecessarily.
It was also suggested fellow directors were alarmed when Charles made a huge future financial commitment to buy BMW engines without their knowledge. Whether that's true who knows?
Anyone with an engineering eye can see that the 3-Wheeler was at best designed on the back of a fag packet and needs a thorough re-engineer. That and the liabilities must have caused some friction.
Add to that an FD who expected to be the MD when Charles was first forced to take a back seat. Egos are at play. Luckily the MD is a solid chap who will almost certainly be supported by the workforce.
Crazy thing is, the public need/want to see a Morgan family member in charge, even if he's a figurehead. It's part of the story and the brand. So what on earth was the catalyst for his complete removal?
But Charles did rather alarm his directors when he announced to Autocar that the 3-Wheeler's wishbones were no good and would be replaced at no cost - that was well before any investigation into the cause of the magazine's accident was undertaken. That specific car had already been involved in an accident and so the knee-jerk reaction was felt to potentially kiss goodbye to profits unnecessarily.
It was also suggested fellow directors were alarmed when Charles made a huge future financial commitment to buy BMW engines without their knowledge. Whether that's true who knows?
Anyone with an engineering eye can see that the 3-Wheeler was at best designed on the back of a fag packet and needs a thorough re-engineer. That and the liabilities must have caused some friction.
Add to that an FD who expected to be the MD when Charles was first forced to take a back seat. Egos are at play. Luckily the MD is a solid chap who will almost certainly be supported by the workforce.
Crazy thing is, the public need/want to see a Morgan family member in charge, even if he's a figurehead. It's part of the story and the brand. So what on earth was the catalyst for his complete removal?
Voguely said:
Maybe he is actually Batman and is being ousted so that the bad guys in the company can get their hands on Morgan's special weapons dept buried somewhere deep in a bunker. Pretty sure that is what is happening here.
Funny you should say that, there have been only 2 employers of note in Malvern. Morgan cars and what was The RSRE which became, DERA which became QinetiQ.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Signals_and_Rad...
Get out yer tin foil hats...
oldtimer2 said:
It seems to me that either the other shareholders think he is useless at what he does or, alternatively, he and they have differents views on the way ahead - either stay small or expand. Which ever it is they concluded it was better for the business he was not there.
The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
I thought Charles Morgan was the MD at the time of the above programme. The wordpress blog, referenced above reminded me of the Harvey-Jones TV programme in which he tried to persuade the then MD, an earlier generation Morgan, that he should expand his business. He declined to do so, believing Morgn was better off staying small and working with an extended order book for the unique, quirky products that no one else made. I thought Morgan was right then. I think they would be right to stay with that approach today. I am unclear what the parties to the present dispute think about this - if indeed this is the point of the dispute.
PS I assume the appeal is to the other shareholders.
Interestingly there was a small article back in March that seems to highlight the start of the changes http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/charles...
I have read thro' the posts here and do not feel one whit wiser. I have NO idea what is going on.
But, I do know that Chas Morgan is the life and breathing soul of the modern Morgan company..and widely admired by his staff.
I somehow feel a very sorry tale unfolding here. If they brought in an outsider to run the company, what would that signify give to the outside world. All too sad.. his father would be horrified I feel certain.
Directors eh.. t
ts.
WF
But, I do know that Chas Morgan is the life and breathing soul of the modern Morgan company..and widely admired by his staff.
I somehow feel a very sorry tale unfolding here. If they brought in an outsider to run the company, what would that signify give to the outside world. All too sad.. his father would be horrified I feel certain.
Directors eh.. t
ts.WF
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