Events of the recent few weeks have been shocking to ExxonMobil employees and shareholders. The performance driven “non layoff” layoffs, the cutting of the savings match and ill the advised belief that not cutting the dividend will stop the bleeding.
You would be hard pressed to find folks who would
say nothing needs to be done. If you are in the fight of your life it would be wise to make sure employees understand and buy in. Management has utterly failed in this aspect.
ExxonMobil board members, starting with Woods need to lead by example. The leadership team should forego any bonuses, stock awards and at least 50 percent reduction in salary. A pledge in the future to eliminate stock buybacks. The LT could make up lost income up with tough incentive laden objectives set by the outside board.
Further change will be coming as another reorganization takes place. It seems unlikely to succeed when the reorganization is led by same people who developed current strategies and bloated overhead.
The outside Board needs to step up.