The result? Muddle, hissy fits and missed profits. Sensible executives planning a merger establish a clear pecking order, even if, as with Peter Long and Friedrich Joussen at the merged Tui travel group, they have a temporary co-reign during a pre-set handover period.
Doubtless Net-A-Porter staff, loyal fans of Massenet’s warm, teambuilding style, will be nervous this morning. Yoox’s Federico Marchetti himself admits his staff don’t like him much.
But in the long run, those who stay will be better off with just one chief.
Nissan: Steer clear of politics
It’s great to hear Nissan pledging another £100 million investment in its Sunderland car plant. But the Japanese company’s decision makes a nonsense of its dire warnings that it would reconsider the factory’s future in the event of a Yes vote in a referendum to leave the EU.
Europhiles could present Nissan’s decision as a £100 million bet that sensible British voters will opt to stay in. But that’s too much of a stretch.
After all, Nissan’s got form in this kind of stuff.
Nissan's Sunderland car plant
Owen Humphreys/PA
In 2002, its boss Carlos Ghosn made similar noises about Sunderland’s future, declaring it would have to rethink investing there if Britain didn’t join the euro.
Thankfully, his words were as hollow then as they are now.
Perhaps Nissan should stick to making good cars and keep out of politics.
