Last week it was announced that Founder Andrew Mason is out as CEO of Groupon and will be replaced by Chairman Eric Lefkofsky and board member Ted Leonsis.
Here is Andrew’s last company message:
People of Groupon,
After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding — I was fired today. If you’re wondering why … you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness to two quarters of missing our own expectations and a stock price that’s hovering around one quarter of our listing price, the events of the last year and a half speak for themselves. As CEO, I am accountable.
You are doing amazing things at Groupon, and you deserve the outside world to give you a second chance. I’m getting in the way of that. A fresh CEO earns you that chance. The board is aligned behind the strategy we’ve shared over the last few months, and I’ve never seen you working together more effectively as a global company — it’s time to give Groupon a relief valve from the public noise.
For those who are concerned about me, please don’t be — I love Groupon, and I’m terribly proud of what we’ve created. I’m OK with having failed at this part of the journey. If Groupon was Battletoads, it would be like I made it all the way to the Terra Tubes without dying on my first ever play through. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to take the company this far with all of you. I’ll now take some time to decompress (FYI I’m looking for a good fat camp to lose my Groupon 40, if anyone has a suggestion), and then maybe I’ll figure out how to channel this experience into something productive.
If there’s one piece of wisdom that this simple pilgrim would like to impart upon you: Have the courage to start with the customer. My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what’s best for our customers. This leadership change gives you some breathing room to break bad habits and deliver sustainable customer happiness — don’t waste the opportunity!
I will miss you terribly.
Love,
Andrew
I must say I love Andrew’s message for a few reasons:
- He is being accountable – all roads lead to him and the numbers weren’t what they needed to be.
- He is leaving with class – wishing the team well and NOT bashing anyone on the way out (like most do).
- He is showing a little humor during a very difficult time of his life.
What do you think of his message?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Scott says:
A true leader… he loves the company and his people enough to know it’s time to move on for them to be successful. He’s a bit goofy, but real in his goodbye which gives a little insight to his personality and the atmosphere at Groupon.
Debra says:
I don’t know Andrew, of course, but I love the authentic and genuine feel of this message. My goodness – do you think he actually wrote this rather than his PR department or his legal staff? What a novel approach!
I agree – accountability, humor, class: all great qualities for leadership.
Debra
Tim Sunderland says:
I saw this yesterday. Pure class.
Patti Schluesselheim says:
i agree; it’s refreshing to see a CEO taking responsibility although I do have to wonder if he is leaving with a hidden golden parachute? Even if that is the case, it’s really nice to see a “real person” doing the right thing as opposed to trying to spin his firing around on the company he founded. And some good advice thrown in for good measure (which more service companies should be embracing):
My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what’s best for our customers. This leadership change gives you some breathing room to break bad habits and deliver sustainable customer happiness — don’t waste the opportunity!
Class Act!
Matt O'Mara says:
I love the ‘spend more time with my family’ part. How refreshing.
We had a saying in the Marine Corps that as an Officer ‘You’re responsible for everything your platoon/squadron/etc does or fails to do’ Pretty comprehensive. I thing Andrew must have been a Marine (or perhaps he just shares their values).
I was equally impressed when Bill Ford Jr. stepped aside (without this type of address) to bring in Alan Mulally to run Ford Motors. Bill Ford is the Great Grandson of Henry Ford I and it had to be difficult for him to accept that he wasn’t the right person for the job. That company has done amazingly well under Malally’s leadership.
Founders are typically great visionaries… unfortunately, they don’t always make the best CEOs when the company they’ve founded grows into a big-time corporation.
Lynn Stalone says:
WOW. Someone who takes responsibility for his actions and doesn’t pass the buck or exit using the scorched earth method. And he still has a sense of humor. Will be interesting to see where he ends up next.
Danielle says:
Fantastic. Written with love and humor and self deprecation in a very classy, heartfelt way. Cheers to him.
Christine Cook says:
AWESOME!!! I LOVE THIS GUY!!! What an amazing man! This guy would fit in GREAT at our company and we do research and some really cool @#$%!
With his accountability, heart and humor we could finally launch our Long Tong Silver’s concept. Drive-Thru Salad Bar! Drive up to the first window and get your extra-long tongs, next window, reach in and garnish your goods, last window weigh and pay! Wait, or Pei Wei…no I think that’s already taken. Think about the money we would save in sneeze guards alone?
M, do you have Andrew’s contact information? We are currently looking for a Project Manager. I think he would love it here! We do stand up and ideation at the Friday staff meetings and everything. Oh, and we’re dog friendly. Yeah! This is what I’m talkin bout! No Problems here, only Situations!
My hats off to Andrew for being a great standup…guy! Really, I think this is excellent. Who wouldn’t hire him? Who wouldn’t want to work for him? I bet people don’t work for him they work with him. HELLO! Pick me! I would love to work with Andrew. What a great and graceful way to exit. Kudos to you Andrew! Have your people call my people!
I’m serious! For all of you reading this…we need a good Project Manager! Send your resume to christinec@ingatherresearch.com. Hey, we have pool table, ping pong, a swimming pool, an exercise room and a full wet –bar! Really, we do! How do you think we came up with Long Tongs? The Cargarita! Carissa makes some wicked Marg’s.
All the information in this post is true. We do need a PM and if you’re interested in working for a cool company…ping me!
Our New Sensory Testing and Facilities Website is http://www.ingathersensory.com if you want to check us out.