Point break
Deerfield Beach, FL, December 2009
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Today's top headline was the announcement from embattled oil giant BP that its equally embattled CEO, Tony Hayward, was pulling the chord on the most golden of golden parachutes. The guy who presided over the henhouse while his minions played fast and loose with the basic rules of drilling safety is now getting his wish - he'll have his life back, along with a never-ending pipeline of big, fat cheques.
I immediately thought of the countless miles of once-pristine beaches that now sit under a deadly film of oil, of the countless plants and animals killed because a company was rushing to move its exploratory rig to the next drilling site. I know I oversimplify because I'm not an expert in drilling mechanics, but it's difficult to oversimplify the legacy of Mr. Hayward's lameoid leadership style. I'd like to say he won't be missed, but I suspect replacing him with another disconnected fonctionnaire won't do much to change the culture of a misguided leviathan at the core of a misguided industry that still thinks it can do as it pleases.
Your turn: What's your retirement wish for Mr. Hayward?
