“London, 16th March 2022 - Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, today announced the appointment of Marykay Wells, Chief Information Officer, to Pearson’s executive leadership team. Reporting directly to CEO Andy Bird, Wells will work with the board and management team to build a technology strategy that supports a coordinated, cross functional approach to data, content delivery, and product development.”
Just take us out into a field and put bullets in our heads
See you later MKW! Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you! Whilst I am sure you have milked every last drop out of this company and got a nice severance package, you have finally heard the resounding sm--k of how truly terrible you are. You have zero legacy at the company other than being one of the worst “Leaders” the company has ever appointed. You will not be missed.
MaryKay Wells is a self promoting PR machine with a very distorted view of how good she is. Her team carry the brunt of her toxic working environment and like the bullied child, take this out on the business with complete immunity. She has presided over so many technology failures in her time at Pearson that one must assume she has some very damning pictures of some very senior people. She rules by fear no matter what she might put out on LinkedIn. Awful, awful person and CTO, if you are offered a role in her organisation, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction and don’t look back.
Worst tech in publishing and higher ed for the last couple of decades. But hey! Let's promote one of the culprits of Pearson's demise. Wonderful strategy.
Name me one publishing CTO who has been worth a darn. Once you get to that level you make great money and if you do get canned (and probably leave with stock or options) you just convince another company to let you do the same thing. There is a former Pearson CTO who has made millions by doing this.
I don't know MW but since she's internal, the bar will be set very..very low.
Assuming both of the previous posters have not me her - no sympathy needed. She's blundered her way through years of tech mistakes and somehow come out on top despite being an extremely abrasive character. It's just more of the same in terms of the types of people promoted - talk a good game, but can't deliver for toffee.
This poor soul has no idea to the nightmare she is about to enter. Although she's probably making $400-500K in total comp, so that will soften the blow.
Most CTO's truly believe they are the smartest people in the room, so that will serve her well.
I put the over-under on her tenure at 18 months.
What makes you say this? Companies shuffle execs all the time. What's the problem with her?