I just don’t get how leadership and direction could go so wrong—how do you go from being the most influential company in 2021 to fighting for survival in just three years? I used to be genuinely proud to work here, but now it doesn’t even feel like the same company.
I don't know if Illumina can get those glory days back.
When our manager become AD few years back it become clear to all of us that the company is going downhill. The least fit to lead scientific group chosen over smart, educated, hardworking.
Francis and Grail damage to ILMN is still felt.
$8B gone. Destruction.
$600M per year pi---d away on Grail loss.
Activist had to save the company from sure bankruptcy. Management flee like cowards.
Good job Francis.
But
We will recover.
We will dominate again.
Slowly but surely.
Those who were in it for personal gain are gone.
Those who couldn’t deal with adversity are gone.
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE!
Now we rise! SPARTA!!!!
(Wakes up from daytime nap)
PacBio, Grail, secret crypto currencies, sycophantic board…..
Frequent changes we carry, potentially to demonstrate activity in presentations (e.g., 1-2 year strategic plans), rather than prioritizing consistent investment in robust Quality Assurance (QA) and development processes. This approach contrasts with the critical need for effective cost management, particularly concerning Illumina's operational expenses.
Furthermore, my close collaboration with the Finance System Support team has revealed recurring issues with data integrity, inconsistencies, and system errors. A significant observation is the tendency to attribute these issues to user error or other teams' mistakes, rather than acknowledging potential internal system deficiencies. The team structure includes a Sr.Director, Director, A-s. Director, Sr. Manager, dedicated team members, and consultants. This hierarchical structure, coupled with the observed operational practices, raises concerns about overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness we have here. It's not Jacob, there are folks under him building wrong narrative to keep pulling out money from the organization, on the name of change, improvement, conference, team building!
When a program (Pinnacle) has to be re-explained month after month there’s a problem in the basic approach and the communication. It was an early indication that Jacob was a bad hire. He’s here to pump you up!
Exactly.That’s been my point all along… while Jakob appears not to be the best hire, the problems that got Illumina here mostly relate to Francis and his horrendous ego and insecurities that prompted him to remove anyone who he perceived as a threat to him. Consequently, he ran out people like the ones you listed - and Jay, who he pushed off the Board!!! Can you imagine being so petty, weak, and stupid as to force out someone with Jay’s knowledge and brilliance?!? It takes a special kind of narcissist and sociopath to do something like that. Everyone is crapping on Jakob… I get it… but he inherited this mess from many years of Francis destroying the company. If people are looking for someone to blame, it should be deSouza.
It's easy to blame new comers. The main reason for this all is our high cost and reduced revenue. You gotta flatten the org. when growth is not there and sustainment is essential.
Also, going back further than this management, who replaced people like Omead, Marc VO, Susan Tusi, C Henrey, M Stapley, Bentley, (... not complete list)?
You had a sense that anyone who was anyone wanted to be at ILMN before this lot came in. WTF is Jacob?
Simple: stupid decisions (Grail), launching products too early to drive down the price of the genome. To maintain the current revenue rate, with this reduced cost we needed to sequence over 50% more samples. Sample volume was shrinking, NIH and VC funding down the toilet. Trump and all his BS!
Also.... Changes in management, current management trying to make us like Agilent. Firing some of the most committed people in the org. Putting in leaders who know nothing about genomics.
Change programs which are not fit for purpose - who has heard anything about Pinnacle recently??? No... didn't think so.
It does seem now that we are getting lined up for a buy out, but then who would want to buy this cluster F of a company - the good thing is, that if we are bought out they will fire all the management on day one (hopefully) - I am sure they are feeling resilient so they should be fine
I mean there is so much more, but we all know the story