A good person and employee has been deemed expendable by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.According to Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star, IMS Director of Public Relations Ron Green was one of several staffers who lost their jobs Tuesday.
In a previous life, I worked directly with Ron Green on many occasions. He was always professional and accommodating. Like me, Green was then a true believer in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in its past, present and future permutations.
His ouster leaves me sad and angry. Ron Green did his job well. The same can not be said of those who make strategic business decisions at the IMS and IRL offices.
I remind you that this is an organization that has demonstrated zero understanding of the differences between media relations and promotions, corporate sales and product marketing, supply chain management and product development.
Fred Nation, Green's former supervisor at the IMS, issued a statement in which he predictably blamed the economy for the latest round of layoffs.
I consider Fred a friend. In this case, he is wrong. Green and the others lost their jobs because they happen to have worked for a company that is very poorly managed. They are paying the price for decisions that were made by others.
Barring significant and unanticipated upgrades in management talent at the IMS and IRL, Green and his cohorts will certainly not be the last to go.
Green's dismissal reminds us of the reality that has befallen IndyCar racing. Masquerading an intellectual property licensing agreement as Title Sponsorship does not change that reality.
Roggespierre
Indy Car: 1 step forward, 3 steps backwards.
ReplyDeleteRon Green was good at what he did and a good, loyal employee. But what does that get you in the Indy Car world?
Mr. Dickle,
ReplyDeleteI don't see the one step forward. Giving away intellectual property rights in exchange for an advertising buy on the telecasts and a little cash to fund an overpriced product does not seem like a step in the right direction to me. It does, however, likely enable Mr. Angstadt to collect a commission for having sold "Title Sponsorship".
I like the new Izod IndyCar clothing line. The retro stuff that's based on the IP that is owned by the IMS Museum is very cool - much more so than anything that might be based on today's IndyCar Series.
The clothes will probably sell. Izod will make cash money due to its IndyCar participation, much like Honda. There is nothing inherently wrong with that - but let's not call it "sponsorship", okay?
Best Regards,
Roggespierre
Maybe an inquiry from a seasoned and respected professional would be well recieved at a new venture like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cdnmotorspeedway.com/
Andy Bernstein