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JANUARY 31, 2005
Best And Worst Managers: Readers' Picks You have one glaring omission in "The best managers...and the worst" (Special Report, Jan. 10): Paul Tagliabue, one of the Best Managers of 2003, was not among your Repeat Performers. He continues to manage the National Football League spectacularly, expanding globally and continuing to develop the top spectator sport in America. I have not done the math, but I bet Mr. Tagliabue has created more value for his shareholders (NFL owners) during his tenure than most CEOs of companies in existence as long as the NFL. He is one of the most respected commissioners in the history of any sport. Steven Battles Danville, Calif. Calling Rodale Inc. "a once-sleepy company" before the arrival of Steven Murphy does a disservice to former CEO Ardath Rodale. Assuming her husband Bob's role after his death in an auto accident in Russia in 1990, "Ardie" more than doubled revenues during her term, launched the profitable Men's Health international business, revitalized and repositioned Prevention, expanded and recruited top editorial talent (including the editor who brought The South Beach Diet to Rodale), and led what publishing industry experts called one of the best blending of Internet and traditional print resources. Murphy may be a great manager, but he is harvesting a crop planted and nurtured by Ardie Rodale. Bob Teufel, Emmaus, Pa. Editor's Note: The writer was president and chief operating officer of Rodale from 1979 until his retirement in 2000. I was curious about the selection of Anne M. Mulcahy as one of the best, while Franklin D. Raines was chosen one of the worst. It is difficult to disagree with your selection of Mr. Raines. The misstatement of Fannie Mae's (FNM ) financial results is one of the more egregious examples of corporate malfeasance since Enron Corp. While Ms. Mulcahy may have been successful in turning around Xerox Corp. (XRX ), what was she doing as a member of the audit committee at Fannie Mae? Shouldn't one of the "best" managers, especially with her experience with Xerox' accounting problems, have been a more vigilant director? Xerox CEOs appear to have a problem with directorships and audit committees. Paul A. Allaire, CEO during the accounting scandal, chaired the audit committee at Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU ) during its accounting problems. Is there something in the drinking water at Xerox' corporate headquarters? William Cobb Bronxville, N.Y. Editor's Note: Allaire chaired Lucent's audit committee in fiscal 2000. In May, Lucent settled Securities & Exchange Commission charges over problems with its fiscal 2000 accounting. Worst managers? You have it wrong! Franklin Raines was able to talk the board into a tidy retirement and $110,000 per month for the rest of his life! The worst managers were the directors who allowed such imbroglios, raping the stockholders. B. Morosin Albuquerque You left out Bruce R. Lakefield, the CEO of US Airways Group (UAIRQ ), as a worst manager. As his company was going into a death spiral over the baggage debacle in Philadelphia during the Christmas holiday, CEO Lakefield was nowhere to be seen. Instead of coming forward and taking charge of the situation, Lakefield sent spokesmen in his place. Where was the chief executive -- too busy packing his "golden parachute"? Leon Reinstein Baltimore Weighing In On Rumsfeld And Rove Re "The Bush team" (Washington Managers, Jan. 10): Many Americans are proud of Donald Rumsfeld and his performance against America's enemies. Almost 70% of those serving in the military support him. BusinessWeek should not embarrass itself by attempting to second-guess a Defense Dept. that has led the world in the war on Islamic terrorism. I subscribe to read about business, not politics. Patrick Stansbury Snellville, Ga. Including Karl Rove in the list of best managers makes a mockery of all businesspeople who achieve their results ethically and with integrity. Why not put Kenneth Lay on the list, since he reached his goal, too -- for a while, anyway. Please name one other corporation in 2005 that operates under the "means justifies the end" philosophy that is not in court or under some sort of sanction. Nancy Adams Midlothian, Va.   Dell Computers Are Built By Dell Workers In Dell Plants Contrary to a recent letter ("Reading the fine print on IBM's China deal," Readers Report, Jan. 17, in response to "China goes shopping," News: Analysis & Commentary, Dec. 20), Dell Inc. (DELL ) computer systems are built to customer specifications by Dell people in Dell plants. Most systems for U.S. customers are built, one at a time, in Austin, Tex., and Lebanon, Tenn. Further, Dell recently announced we would add to our U.S. manufacturing operations with a third location, in Winston-Salem, N.C. We also have manufacturing operations in Ireland, Brazil, Malaysia, and China to serve our millions of customers in other parts of the world. Lynn Antipas Tyson Investor Relations Dell Inc. Round Rock, Tex.
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