Retired to Not Retired ????

[island1fox]

UPS announced a new Global Freight manager --Ken T. This person retired last year from UPS --- He had been the Asia Pac -Region Manager.
With all the extra Region Managers around and many other Management people extra because of consolidations ---Why in the world would UPS call back a retired peson ------ Does not make any sense. I cannot believe that he was the only person capable of this position --particularly when the majority of his career was spent in small package ?????

 

[pretzel_man]

UPS announced a new Global Freight manager --Ken T. This person retired last year from UPS --- He had been the Asia Pac -Region Manager.
With all the extra Region Managers around and many other Management people extra because of consolidations ---Why in the world would UPS call back a retired peson ------ Does not make any sense. I cannot believe that he was the only person capable of this position --particularly when the majority of his career was spent in small package ?????

I had the exact same thoughts, but....

The management committee has much more insight here than I do. Ken T. may have experiences that you and I don't understand.

As the Asia Pac region manager, he picked up much wider skills than what one would in a domestic US small package region.

Since much of the freight forwarding business is coming from Asia, his experience may be more applicable than I understand.

The management committee is very frugle, so I have to trust them on this. If they think this is important and the right move for the business, that's good enough for me.

P-Man

 

[drewed]

Probably the precise reasons Pretzel there's a HUGE learning curve when it comes to int'l regulations, also if memory serves this guy before the asia pac assignment was in Europe so he has a lot of contacts knows a lot of people, he was the asia pac during increased growth and UPS is hoping a for a lot of growth in the frieght division.

 

[hangin455]

I had the exact same thoughts, but....

The management committee is very frugle, so I have to trust them on this. If they think this is important and the right move for the business, that's good enough for me.

P-Man

I doubt if frugality had much of a hand here. They probably had to cough up a nice piece of coin to get him out of retirement.

 

[dannyboy]

the asia pac assignment was in Europe so he has a lot of contacts knows a lot of people, he was the asia pac during increased growth

Bingo, we have a winner.

Asia is a bit different than a lot of other places. The ability to make the connections have served him greatly. The ability to keep them and to grow in the face of the new onslaughts of DHL and others in the area.

Asians like a familiar face in dealings.

At least that is the way it used to be.

d

 

[island1fox]

I believe we have alot of people in LA-LA land. Region managers --including Asia --have very large Staffs -----they are hardly what we would call "hands on" or in the face of customers or the public.
I guess --just as the Tax CHEAT was obviously the only person capable in the whole United States to be Treasury secretary than the kool aid drinkers will also believe --pay big bucks --get a guy out of retirement --because not one of the "extra " region managers --sitting in Atlanta could handle the job. How many lay-offs are we looking at ----- how many extra management people do we have ? What is the present stock price ?
If he had in fact been doing his job properly ------we would have many other --pre-age management people --developed and introduced into any of the important contacts . While we at it --the stock is down --should we call back all of the former CEO'S -- maybe they too can use some extra cash !!!

 

[island1fox]

P.S. Because a UPS person worked in Europe during the late ninties in the Transportation area ( OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HUB AND FEEDER)Does not give him business contacts there today !! Some people have to get real !!!!

 

[drewed]

I believe we have alot of people in LA-LA land. Region managers --including Asia --have very large Staffs -----they are hardly what we would call "hands on" or in the face of customers or the public.
I guess --just as the Tax CHEAT was obviously the only person capable in the whole United States to be Treasury secretary than the kool aid drinkers will also believe --pay big bucks --get a guy out of retirement --because not one of the "extra " region managers --sitting in Atlanta could handle the job. How many lay-offs are we looking at ----- how many extra management people do we have ? What is the present stock price ?
If he had in fact been doing his job properly ------we would have many other --pre-age management people --developed and introduced into any of the important contacts .Yea they took over for him when he retired! While we at it --the stock is down --should we call back all of the former CEO'S -- maybe they too can use some extra cash !!!

Just because he worked in feeders doesnt mean he didnt gain the exp he needed for this post as well, he gained knowledge of various int'l customs regulations and the same in asia he understands the flows and understands the operations. Ask a feeder manager here if they know what it takes to ship computer chip x from San Diego to Nagoya Japan, well put it on the plane and send the plane away...well no you have to submit a exporter license, clear it with customs yada yada yada Im just saying his skill set is different then other peoples

 

[pretzel_man]

The man oversaw the Asia / Pac region while it was growing and building out. No matter what he had for a staff, he had to be involved in the planning and execution.

I'm sure he had to work with many external customers, government officials and service partners. All region managers do this.

Asia is about 1/3 of the world's economy. I think being close to seeing it expand is pretty good credentials. Why he was chosen over an existing region manager is something only the management committee knows.

There could be lots of reasons way beyond the ones I speculated here.

P-Man

 

[dannyboy]

would call "hands on" or in the face of customers or the public

I dont know too many people that deal with very large corp clients where the bottom guy on the staff is doing the dealing.

In many places on the eastern rim, it is an insult to negotiate with someone of less stature or position than you hold in your company. And the really big deals are done by the top guys, not some customer account rep. Or some lesser staff member.

But that is just from my experience in LaLA land.

d

 

[Channahon]

Management staffing reductions have been going on since the 90's when region and districts were consolidated globally. As a result there has been less opportunity for UPS mangement to pursue the next level of management, in addition to minimal succession planning.

So, if someone is asked to come back after retirement, who spent most of his career in the international segment of UPS, then that was a decision made by the mangement committee.

Personally, caller ID might have prevented me from answering the phone, but then again, I didn't retire as a Region Manager.

 

[island1fox]

Danny,
You all win --I WILL JOIN la-la LAND after my final comment on this thread.
Ups has been an International -Global company for some time now -- even LA-LA land people can agee with that statement. How many -non- Americans do we have on the Management Committee ? One ? Two ?
How about NONE!!!!
Why you might ask ? Because this is the type of UPS Corporate Culture thinking that has caused us billions of dollars over the years.Only the people that hang around the corporate cafeteria in Atlanta are capable of doing anything around the world--- this is where the true "contacts " lie.
Now --Many of these people are capable and are very good --(not to get off point --K.T. IS VERY GOOD) My point is that -----just focus on Asia --You keep pointing out --who enjoys or prefers to do business with whom!!
I am sure you are not telling me that an Asian businessman --who was purchased by UPS --that has been in the Global Freight Business -that has grown up with the business contacts --is less capable that a retired American ex-pat !! I too am very familiar with International ----and in the real world -Europeans --while putting up with Americas --prefer to do business with their own --and most definitely an Asian UPS Management -WOULD HAVE MANY MORE DOORS OPEN TO HIM WITH ASIAN BUSINESS.
If we did not let people grow and develop in their jobs in the US --Jim Kelly would still be in Feeders AND OZ would still be a Sales Rep.
"LET OUR PEOPLE(INTERNATIONAL) GROW.
K.T.--GOOD GUY --but "STILL UGLY aMERICAN
But --I promised ----all of you are right ----He is with no doubt(not even reasonable doubt) the only capable and qualified person for this job !!!!

 

[dannyboy]

that an Asian businessman --who was purchased by UPS

Dang

I thought we fought a war over the right to buy and sell people. It was blacks back then, and a few Irish thrown in.

But it is news to me that you can buy an Asian businessman.

As for your real point, when we went public, things changed. We had to bring people onto our board from other companies. They like that, and our board members like being on the boards of other companies. That way everybody can make some extra money by being on the board of all these companies, so they can vote pay contracts for the persons at that company. Then those vote for pay increases at other companies, and before long, you have boards that vote pay increases that the people dont deserve, but they do it anyway, cause that guy is going to say yes or now to their pay bundle.

Incest in its most basic form.

But your point.

It was and always had been the function of UPS to grow its management pool to their full potential. Over the last 20 years or so, I think a lot of that has either stopped, or has been curtailed. And it is our loss.

It used to be that for every position that opened up, there were at least a dozen well qualified people for that job. Now it seems that they are more interested in bringing in new blood that does not really bleed or breathe brown. And with it some really strange ideas as how this company needs to go.

And while going public has had its benefits, over the long haul, I dont know if it will be worth the price paid.

d

 

[island1fox]

Well Danny --since I joined LA-LA land ---I can go back on my 'last Word" post.
Lets be "so polically correct" The companies we purchased have and do have very experienced people. Nothing to do with our civil war -HA HA
While I spoke of our ups grown -American only Management Commitee -you bring up the silly topic of the "outside Board of directors" --that have squat to do with this discussion.
Bottom line if you believe that a one year already retired expat {American)- IS THE ONLY PERSON FOR THE JOB --SO BE IT.

 

[island1fox]

P.S.
Danny,
Sorry to correct you---------we had Outside Board of Directors at UPS --long before we went public.

 

[pretzel_man]

Well Danny --since I joined LA-LA land ---I can go back on my 'last Word" post.
Lets be "so polically correct" The companies we purchased have and do have very experienced people. Nothing to do with our civil war -HA HA
While I spoke of our ups grown -American only Management Commitee -you bring up the silly topic of the "outside Board of directors" --that have squat to do with this discussion.
Bottom line if you believe that a one year already retired expat {American)- IS THE ONLY PERSON FOR THE JOB --SO BE IT.

The truth is that neither you, I, nor anyone here knows why Ken T. was brought out of retirement for this position.

You bring up a valid point that it seems strange, but that about as far as the point goes. The management committee has all the facts and I trust they are making the best decision. They do not have any other motive but to do what's best for UPS.

You are correct about the US only management committee, but our COO was responsible for International operations for a long time. Our CIO has extensive experience in creating international systems and understands the customs laws and international business. Dan B, Bob S, and Alan G. were all in supply chain solutions for a long time.

While its true they are all Americans, they have much more experience than US small package.

P-Man

 

[island1fox]

Prezel Man,
We can agree one one point -----my only point --with alot of facts to support -------STRANGE !!
Particularly in the midst of consolidations, lay-offs and rumors of a possible buyout -----Two of the Region managers that are very qualified with vast experience --including International --are on Special Assignment in Atanta. With the economy and our stock price where it presently is ---as a major shareholder --I AM SURE WE COULD HAVE MADE A BETTER DECISION. Sorry for yelling --just my opinion ----others have and will disagree--so be it.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Personnel decisions should not be based upon the number of shares held by "major shareholders". It sounds as though he was the most qualified man for the position. It is not that unusual for qualifed people to be lured out of retirement. How many times did Micheal Jordan come back? Let's just hope Ken T was not given MJ numbers to return.

 

[island1fox]

P.S.
Danny,
A few of my relatives were involved in our unfortunate Civil War .
To be totally polical correct --you should know that the war was originally fought over the south ceding from the union. When we were well-into the war --the slavery discussion was put to a close when the Republican President issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
A great proclamation for our country --nothing for either you or me to joke about. Just setting the record straight.

 

[drewed]

Well the south succede from the union when lincoln was elected because he said he wanted to outlaw slavery, if we re going to set the record straight.