This is the merged thread referenced above.
It just got interesting again with references to Hogan's Heroes and that old Yankee Doodle Dandy, General George Washington!
PaulMCO wrote: Totally not a fan. To play the Sargent Shultz roll of “I know nothing”. Insults my intelligence. and many who are owed money.
We all knew the issues GHK was having. I can vividly remember one cc member posting the Hong Kong stock exchange filed reports of GHK. I know nothing.
The issues of shipbuilder Mv were fully documented in news papers and media in the US and more extensively in Germany. I know nothing.
issues of refunds not being paid or taking a year or longer. I know nothing.
checks bouncing in early December to vendors and travel agents. I know nothing.
thousands of customers and vendors not being paid and having to resort to the ABC process. I know nothing.
I am an US executive in a subsidiary of a European mid cap company. I have made it the upmost priority in my 20+ year association to Know everything about the operational and financial issues that effect my environment.
Mr Anderson failed to do so because he knew nothing.
Stickman1990 wrote:I used to love that series
So I wonder who is playing the role of Colonel Klink in this scenario?
PaulMCO wrote:Maybe LIM at GHK.
shrkdive1 wrote: Isn't the problem around Jack Anderson the fact that Crystal was not profitable under his leadership? Even in the few years just before COVID Crystal was losing lots of money while all other cruise lines were making money. Why would A& K want him back? Apparently what ever he was doing wasn't working to increase revenue and turn a profit. Had they been profitable perhaps the end result may have been different earlier this year when Genting pulled the plug on continuing to fund their losses.
demise of crystal cruises leaves customers out 100 million or more
hypercafe wrote:Lots of ongoing talk about Anderson. I listened to his interview and he didn't sound like an excited leader of a new company, in fact I thought he might fall asleep. He just sounded like a PR person reciting the corporate line. The past is the past and apparently A&K have some trust in him but a lot can happen in a year. I enjoyed my time on Crystal as much as I have on any line I have taken and would go again depending on what, where and when. I really do have a hard time believing he knew nothing until he read about the bankruptcy in the paper however I wish him success.
BWIVince wrote:{replying to shrkdive1]I don’t think that ever would have made a difference given the shipyard scenario and the sheer size of that vortex.
Also, Crystal wasn’t consistently profitable under ANY of its leadership, especially since both owners tasked the brand with other functions that challenged profitability (they weren’t there to make money inside just that one silo, essentially).
Besides, NO US-based cruise line turned a profit during any of Anderson’s tenure as CEO— that’s not really a fair bar to measure him by.
[replying to hypercafe}The part that no one says (or rarely says) out loud is that he’s only there to transition the company. If he’s in that role much longer than 2 years (if that), I’ll be shocked. He’s there for a reason and has a job to do, which I do think he is uniquely suited for, but I’m not bothered that he’s the most dynamic or operationally-minded leader because his time is limited and that’s not his function right now. Just my read…
Keith1010 wrote:{replying to shrkdive1} Please note Jack Anderson was only in charge of Crystal Cruises when he was asked to come in on a temporary basis after Tom Wolber left and for the entire time during the Pandemic. I seriously doubt any cruise line made money during this time frame and do not believe he deserves the blame. It is like guilt because of association.
During the time he led the Sales and Marketing team Crystal passenger count increased significantly.
He brings a lot to his position IMHO.
Genting pulled the plug because of Genting and their mismanagement and outlandish spending.
Jack Anderson tried to save Crystal up until the minute when Genting said they are done. In fact, if they gave him time the line could have been sold.
Keith1010 wrote:{replying to hypercafe} It didn't take a rocket science at the end to know Genting was in trouble.
So exactly what was he to do.
Give up. Close shop. Run away.
He worked very hard up until the last minute trying to save the company.
Now as to how one comes off on camera doesn't is not related to their ability to lead a company into the future.
There are some who look the part and are ineffective and others who do not look the part who are effective.
I wonder in today's world if George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln would make the cut in terms of their style or even Walter Cronkite.
ctjon wrote:
Ritz- Carleton is also starting a luxury cruise line - a little different but..
Competition is getting stronger which will not help anyone. Crystal's strength was its crew and the way it treated its passengers - those are the challenges for the future
hypercafe wrote:{replying to Keith1010} I have my opinion and impression and you have yours. Because either of us says things it doesn't make them facts. I do think Washington and Lincoln were more enthusiastic about their position than Jack seemed to be but that's just my opinion.
Stickman1990 wrote:So just how do you know what he actually did, or didn’t do?
Similarly how do you know what the loadings were and let’s remember they were offering heavily discounted short cruises - they may have filled cabins but was it profitable or sustainable?
Texas Tillie wrote:Just wondering if you'd be happier with Edie and all her flamboyance?!? I've never known that there was necessarily a correlation between personality and competence.
Keith1010 wrote:{replying to Stickman Sorry but I was not talking about landings during the pandemic.
I was speaking about them when he led the Sales and Marketing teams and yes at the time I knew what they were.
He was extremely well regarded for both itinerary planning and his roles in sales and marketing not only with Crystal cruises but in the industry.
Keith1010 wrote:{replying to hypercafe} Yep we all have our opinions and the only one that matters is our own.
With that said when people post they do know that someone might come along with a different opinion.
As to George Washington all we have is writings not his voice so to make it Apples to Apples maybe if we had a transcript of the interview that would be better than an audio and video. There were some by the way who said he never should have been a General. He did make some bad mistakes. Then again I am not aware of any leader of a company who has not made their fair share of mistakes.
ctjon wrote:
Among the things I found interesting - said they'd like to get into expedition cruising again and he had no idea what was going on with river vessels. I can see the new Crystal having no interest in the very crowded river vessels but I could definitely see A&K wanting to do expedition.
As to all the blame on him - personally I think Eddie started the downhill slide buying things not needed or wanted and no one stopping her, Obviously, the parent company wasn't interested or had the ability to fix things at the end
PaulMCO wrote: Your are forgetting that A&K already have an expedition group and have doing this for years. So this is already in the group. They currently lease a Ponant vessel. Silversea/Royal made a more attractive offer that was less risky for the banks. It was obviously not the highest offer but least risk.
I made my piece about Mr. Anderson. But I do have to give kudos on staff relationship. All of the staff I have talked since the bankruptcy love him and his "caring" management style to the crew and employees. These are the people that Crystal needs to have return/retain.
Ethereal Cruiser wrote:
I may have made this point earlier, but Edie Rodriguez kept Crystal Cruises in the luxury conversation. And I have to wonder if her gender, in the otherwise all male -dominated arena, had a lot to do with all the animosity about her.
General George Washington, to my knowledge, is not available to help stabilize Crystal Cruises. In baseball terms, he only had a 500 winning percentage, maybe slightly less, and yes, there were many times his job (as General) was on the line. But he was the right man at the right time, and aided greatly by France, let's not forget.
I would also note that the General and President was well known as a fashionista in his day, although not by that term. (He was a Yankee Doodle Dandy!) And when he went riding into town, resplendent in blue and buff, and a scabbard, it was important that the citizenry see him like that.
Texas Tillie wrote: Did Edie keep Crystal in the conversation or was the conversation just about Edie?
And, what kind of executive job has Edie had since she was canned by Genting? Think the rest of the industry had her figured out. And, it had nothing to do with gender.
ctjon wrote:She had ideas for airplane cruises that no one was interested but bought airplanes anyway. Spending money was her thiung even if it was on stuff that no one else thought they should. Mention Crystal she had to be in the photo,
I don't think it had anything to do with gender - only her actions.
hypercafe wrote:Much has been said in defense of Anderson as just following orders, maybe Edie was doing the same. At this point none of that matters. Going forward if I was making a video that many TA will see as stated by the host I would try to spell excitement and try to stay awake.
AtA wrote:{replying to ctjon} It's crew was number one but it also had the food, the entertainment compared to the other high end line, the lectures and the number of lecturers compared to the other high end line, the classes including golf, knitting, art, computer, etc compared to the other high end lines. And everything else they included.
BWIVince wrote:{replying to ctjon} This seems to be a common misconception around here…. Edie didn’t order the planes, and they weren’t her idea or product. They were Genting’s, and they served (and most of them continue to serve) Genting’s group and incentive business. Some of them were branded as Crystal as part of their strategy to make Crystal their luxury brand, kind of like Crockfords is now, but AirCruises were Genting’s way of filling in idle time (and earn additional land commissions) for the planes on certain dates. The AirCruises started with them, and continued with them when Crystal dropped its dates, and of course the planes remained remained through all the subsequent leaders because they weren’t Crystal’s to change/dispose of.
I’ll just say one thing about Edie’s gender…. I sure heard a lot of complaints about Edie’s picture appearing in the same promotional material that Gregg Michel’s did. The telling part is, when shown that Gregg’s picture was in the same place, the response was generally, “oh, I never noticed when it was his photo. Mmhmm.
In fairness, Edie did do a lot more press, but she was brought in to do marketing when the leadership was split 3 ways (with Thomas doing operations and Jack doing sales). Her job was literally to do press.
Anyway, Edie has her flaws like everyone, but I cringe every time I see the planes falsely dumped on her when they had (and still have) nothing to do with her.
CryptOkicker5 wrote: A&K likes those shiny flying things!
private jet
seaknots wrote:{agreeing with hypercafe} to maybe time to retire and go cruising not try to resurrect a failed brand
And now it's drifted into a bunch of thesis papers about business, so I'm going to close this post to new quotes. Too bad because there's a lot more relevant stuff worth saying about General George Washington.
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