RE: Charles Morgan: game over
Thursday 31st October 2013
Charles Morgan won’t be coming back to Morgan after the board decided to stand by its earlier decision following an appeal hearing last Friday. It means there won’t be a Morgan on the board of directors for the first time since the company was founded by Charles’s grandfather in 1910.
Charles Morgan: game over
Morgan board stands by its decision; Charles Morgan defends his record
In a statement posted on his website Morgan said, “I have been dismissed on what I believe are very contentious grounds. It is incredibly disappointing news for my family and myself. We remain very grateful for the expressions of support received from Morgan fans, workers and the public since this process began.”
In a document seen by Autocar, the reasons for the dismissal were alleged to be misconduct ranging from supporting Morgan-backed 2012 Le Mans cars without approval, to taking payments for talks about his days as an ITN cameraman, again without board approval.
He blamed a mismatch in vision for the company for his removal. “Over the last 12 months, it was made increasingly clear that my philosophy to modernise Morgan did not fit with the philosophy of the current management.
“My view is that Morgan’s future cannot rely on its heritage alone. As such, I endeavoured to introduce our unique brand to new markets such as China; to take Morgan racing again; and to engage the passion of a new generation using social media, and by doing interesting things such as the Gumball Rally in a 3-Wheeler.”
The Morgan Motor Company announced Charles Morgan was stepping down from the board and his ambassadorial role in the firm last Monday. Charles then hit back by retweeting messages of support sent to him on Twitter, and appealed the decision.
He says remains a major shareholder in Morgan and is “concerned for its future”.
[Source: Charles Morgan personal blog]
Discussion
What a pity. Morgan is on it's way to extinction, like hundreds of other motor manufacturer run simply as a business.
With out it's tradition, Morgan is just another car maker, & there is no more reason to buy it's product than any other car.
I remember not long after I bought my first new Morgan in 1962 seeing an interview with Mr. Honda. He was asked his thoughts on the industry. He predicted that by today there would only be 10 separate car manufacturers world wide. He then corrected himself to add, "and Morgan of course".
We can now see the beginning of the end of Morgan. As Morgan they could survive a mistake like the aborted +4+ thing. Now as just another bit player, their next mistake will be their last. They will be absorbed into some conglomerate or other for a while, then disappear for ever.
Good by Morgan, it WAS great while it lasted, & the world will be poorer for your passing.
With out it's tradition, Morgan is just another car maker, & there is no more reason to buy it's product than any other car.
I remember not long after I bought my first new Morgan in 1962 seeing an interview with Mr. Honda. He was asked his thoughts on the industry. He predicted that by today there would only be 10 separate car manufacturers world wide. He then corrected himself to add, "and Morgan of course".
We can now see the beginning of the end of Morgan. As Morgan they could survive a mistake like the aborted +4+ thing. Now as just another bit player, their next mistake will be their last. They will be absorbed into some conglomerate or other for a while, then disappear for ever.
Good by Morgan, it WAS great while it lasted, & the world will be poorer for your passing.
Heaven knows the realities of the situation inside Morgan. Clearly there is one version for the public and another for insiders and owners of the company.
Whatever happens next, it seems to me that Morgan is in a proper pickle. They may have removed CM from management, but he remains a significant shareholder, so he's not going to just go away.
What's more, Morgan management now need to be seen to take control. That means making decisions; about product strategies, new models, customer services, marketing etc..
If the company is to continue to thrive ( and it has clearly done pretty well in recent years ) then management are going to have to send a clear signal to the world what comes next.
In other words, now CM has gone, what the hell happens next in terms of Morgan cars that people want to buy?
If the management think they can survive just by eking out the trad Morgan, then I don't think that is enough.
So, come on then Morgan, tell us- what now?
Whatever happens next, it seems to me that Morgan is in a proper pickle. They may have removed CM from management, but he remains a significant shareholder, so he's not going to just go away.
What's more, Morgan management now need to be seen to take control. That means making decisions; about product strategies, new models, customer services, marketing etc..
If the company is to continue to thrive ( and it has clearly done pretty well in recent years ) then management are going to have to send a clear signal to the world what comes next.
In other words, now CM has gone, what the hell happens next in terms of Morgan cars that people want to buy?
If the management think they can survive just by eking out the trad Morgan, then I don't think that is enough.
So, come on then Morgan, tell us- what now?
There HAS to be a very good reason or reasons for the board to dump Charles Morgan and his rather histrionic outbursts of late do not show him in a very good light.
It does NOT have to be the end of Morgan cars, provided the board has a clear vision of where the company intends to go. Charles Morgan's shareholding can be used by him in one of two ways. a) to support the company and help it move forward or b) to try to get even with the board and scupper their plans.
I hope he chooses a) which would put him high in my esteem.
It does NOT have to be the end of Morgan cars, provided the board has a clear vision of where the company intends to go. Charles Morgan's shareholding can be used by him in one of two ways. a) to support the company and help it move forward or b) to try to get even with the board and scupper their plans.
I hope he chooses a) which would put him high in my esteem.
Charles Morgan's assertion that “Morgan’s future cannot rely on its heritage alone" although sounding intuitive, I believe is actually inaccurate. The TV documentary of 20 years ago concluded exactly this point, yet we see surging sales of... a V-twin three wheeler and ash framed sports cars. Yes the model development has to happen but it looks to have been working well so far, counter to most peoples expectation...
AyBee said:
Why did he need board approval to talk about his past before Morgan? 
Based on the PH report,it's not for talking about his past but for "taking payments" for such talks. It's quite common for senior executives to have employment contracts which require them to get the approval of their board before taking other forms of paid-for activity.Hasbeen said:
What a pity. Morgan is on it's way to extinction, like hundreds of other motor manufacturer run simply as a business.
With out it's tradition, Morgan is just another car maker, & there is no more reason to buy it's product than any other car.
I remember not long after I bought my first new Morgan in 1962 seeing an interview with Mr. Honda. He was asked his thoughts on the industry. He predicted that by today there would only be 10 separate car manufacturers world wide. He then corrected himself to add, "and Morgan of course".
We can now see the beginning of the end of Morgan. As Morgan they could survive a mistake like the aborted +4+ thing. Now as just another bit player, their next mistake will be their last. They will be absorbed into some conglomerate or other for a while, then disappear for ever.
Good by Morgan, it WAS great while it lasted, & the world will be poorer for your passing.
Oh dry your fWith out it's tradition, Morgan is just another car maker, & there is no more reason to buy it's product than any other car.
I remember not long after I bought my first new Morgan in 1962 seeing an interview with Mr. Honda. He was asked his thoughts on the industry. He predicted that by today there would only be 10 separate car manufacturers world wide. He then corrected himself to add, "and Morgan of course".
We can now see the beginning of the end of Morgan. As Morgan they could survive a mistake like the aborted +4+ thing. Now as just another bit player, their next mistake will be their last. They will be absorbed into some conglomerate or other for a while, then disappear for ever.
Good by Morgan, it WAS great while it lasted, & the world will be poorer for your passing.
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.
He sounds like he wanted to do things as he saw fit and the board disagreed. He did them anyway with the inevitable consequences.
I don't agree with this BS about the company dying now he's gone. The company is much much bigger than any one man. It is the cars that generate the reputation, it is the workforce that generate the reputation, it is the heritage that generates the reputation. He was just the icing on the cake. Did Lotus die when Colin Chapman died? No. Did Ferrari die when Enzo Ferrari died? No. Morgan will be just fine.
I don't agree with this BS about the company dying now he's gone. The company is much much bigger than any one man. It is the cars that generate the reputation, it is the workforce that generate the reputation, it is the heritage that generates the reputation. He was just the icing on the cake. Did Lotus die when Colin Chapman died? No. Did Ferrari die when Enzo Ferrari died? No. Morgan will be just fine.
I have heard so many conflicting stories about Charles Morgan and how he goes about running the show that I cannot tell who is right and who is wrong.
On the basis that the majority of people have exactly the same sources as me (namely the press and a bit of hearsay from people claiming to be in the know), fk knows how people can justify comments that Morgan is now officially dead, or that the owners of 66% of the shares are 'parasites'.
The board have stayed tight lipped throughout all this, and it has been Charles Morgan flapping around and kicking up a fuss (frankly he would probably have stood a better chance staying equally tight lipped, rather than garnering (in a rather theatrical and bombastic fashion) the support of a people a).without influence or b). a fking clue about what is ACTUALLY going on.)
But there we are. IMHO I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing. However, it has happened, and that is all there is to it. I am sure Morgan will survive, and stories about its demise is just so much hysteria from people getting misty eyed over a rose tinted idea of a lovely cosy family industry.
On the basis that the majority of people have exactly the same sources as me (namely the press and a bit of hearsay from people claiming to be in the know), f
k knows how people can justify comments that Morgan is now officially dead, or that the owners of 66% of the shares are 'parasites'. The board have stayed tight lipped throughout all this, and it has been Charles Morgan flapping around and kicking up a fuss (frankly he would probably have stood a better chance staying equally tight lipped, rather than garnering (in a rather theatrical and bombastic fashion) the support of a people a).without influence or b). a f
king clue about what is ACTUALLY going on.)But there we are. IMHO I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing. However, it has happened, and that is all there is to it. I am sure Morgan will survive, and stories about its demise is just so much hysteria from people getting misty eyed over a rose tinted idea of a lovely cosy family industry.
jamespink said:
Charles Morgan's assertion that “Morgan’s future cannot rely on its heritage alone" although sounding intuitive, I believe is actually inaccurate. The TV documentary of 20 years ago concluded exactly this point, yet we see surging sales of... a V-twin three wheeler and ash framed sports cars. Yes the model development has to happen but it looks to have been working well so far, counter to most peoples expectation...
I was at the factory this week meeting my new car. The place was really busy with dozens of 3Ws and trads in build. The export market is also very healthy judging by how many were LHD. However, I'm not sure how profitable they are per car, even taking into account the high prices. A plus 8 is about 85k and the Aeros are over 100k, and they use some very expensive tech like superformed panels. You have to be a pretty well off and committed enthusiast to choose one of these over a more main stream marque.The other issue I see is just how do they attract new people to the marque by making essentially the same cars they have made for decades? One of the chaps on the tour had brought along his 1981 4/4 and he couldn't see the point in buying a new one which is basically the same as his current one. So many of them are still on the road and kept going. I fear that the current customer base will dry up eventually with nobody to replace them.
One area they seem to miss a trick is that they don't do restorations at the factory. I can understand that they don't have the space and can't afford the manpower but there must be money in it.
The Vambo said:
Oh dry your fking 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.
A Scotsman said:
So what's next? Bring in a Private Equity Company or Hedge Fund who will asset strip Morgan and slash all development work in order to build up a better balance sheet ready to sell it off presumably to some overseas company at a profit?
That would seem suspiciously likely.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff