“The Board of Games Workshop is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Rountree as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 January 2015.
Tom Kirby, Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer, will take up the position of Non-Executive Chairman with effect from that date.
Kevin, 45, joined Games Workshop in 1998. He is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Commenting on the appointment, Tom Kirby said: “The Board undertook a thorough process in selecting our new CEO, receiving a significant number of applications for the position, both internal and external. Kevin was the outstanding candidate.
The board congratulates Kevin on his appointment and wishes him every success in his new role.”"
No he's not. He's totally not. He's only taking the title of a chairman that happens to own the largest amount of stock in the company. CEOs still answer to the stockholders, and in a sense, Kirby has quite the sway over the CEO.
Hm, it's not cronyism to promote within the company.. It's actually the correct way to do things usually. Promoting your relative from outside the company or from way outside their expertise level is cronyism.
Kirasu wrote: Hm, it's not cronyism to promote within the company.. It's actually the correct way to do things usually. Promoting your relative from outside the company or from way outside their expertise level is cronyism.
Please, everyone who was paying attention knew this is what would happen, it just wasn't possible to say exactly who amongst Kirby's lieutenants would be chosen.
It may be that Kev was the best qualified, but it doesn't also mean he's also a Kirby yes man and that this appointment is meaningless in terms of any likely change to GW's approach.
I mean, this sort of corporate nepotism goes on literally every day, but when it is so obvious it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
The real question is who is replacing Kevin Rountree as CFO and COO? Or does he now have the responsibilities of three c-level executives?
This guy is definitely going to keep things going on the current path. He was in charge of both the company's financials and their day to day operations for quite some time. And now he's also in charge of everything.
As they say, one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
So what should we expect from here?
Higher prices on new releases
Continuing to decline available opponent pool
Surprise edition updates
Dividends per share at higher than earnings per share
Negligible reinvestment into the company
More stores reduced to single employee operations
Less product available to independent trade "partners"
Falling revenue and declining volume
More market share for the competitors
While not surprised at an internal position, the fact they chose yet another accounts man (wasn't Kirby the same way?) shows that they don't think anything is wrong with the current trend.
Now there is a glimmer of hope that Kevin Rountree, being only 45 years old, isn't completely out of touch with the 21st century or modern business practices. A small glimmer, but a glimmer nonetheless since unless Kirby was refusing to listen to anyone else (unlikely but not outside the realm of possibility) then Rountree is aware of what was going on and is okay with it or even encouraged it.
squidhills wrote: So, what I'm gathering from this news is that we can look forward to someone picking up the 40K IP in three years when GW tanks, right?
No way. How can you say that? It'll be two years at most.
Glad to see that nothing has changed. We knew this would happen. I do hope that changes will be made, but I'd be lying if I said that I'm expecting any.
squidhills wrote: So, what I'm gathering from this news is that we can look forward to someone picking up the 40K IP in three years when GW tanks, right?
Yea, pretty much. Roundtree is not anything new. He's been the CFO and COO, so the direction GW has been heading in over the last five plus years has his fingerprints all over it. It is a double down internal promotion. If Roundtree wasn't executing Kirby's policies, he wouldn't have been in the positions he's been in.
Thirdeye wrote: No real change in the stock price since the announcement. Apparently the investors are equally unimpressed.
If a forum of gaming geeks figured out weeks and weeks ago that it was going to be an internal promotion, professional equity analysts just might have been able to come to the same conclusion. Which would mean that the announcement has already been baked into the current stock price. No surprises = no change.
The name Kevin Rountree rang a bell straight away so it's no surprise they've appointee from within. As expected of course, but GW's problems really require someone with new ideas. The suspicion is that under Rountree it'll be service as usual. And that just isn't washing for GW right now.
Well, if you're publicly stating that you're hiring not for skill but attitude... then promotion from within GW seems like a great idea! From the design team that brought us Santa Grimnar to the legal team that would sue their own mother for using the letter "c" if they could to the corporate types that lead us to the "if we let everyone buy everything at the expense of the game's remaining balance, we'll be rich!"... they're an an endless pit lacking in skill but brimming with (bad) attitude.
MrFlutterPie wrote: In all honesty did anybody really and truly expect GW's new CEO would change the status quo?
Expect? No.
Hope? Maybe.
As the old saying goes, "hope for the best but expect the worst." As long as Kirby is still there in any capacity, nothing will change.
Even if Kirby did leave, things might not change. The entire upper management has been shaped by Kirby. If he left, they might still carry on the same way.
MrFlutterPie wrote: In all honesty did anybody really and truly expect GW's new CEO would change the status quo?
Expect? No.
Hope? Maybe. As the old saying goes, "hope for the best but expect the worst." As long as Kirby is still there in any capacity, nothing will change.
I totally get that but you know what they say about hope and the first step to disappointment
The way I see it, the GW board operates like a think-tank in that they've weeded out all opposing ideas by the time people make it onto the board leaving only like-minded people to push the same ideas and agenda.
At this point there's nothing the board can do to change itself due to the nature of think-tanks; anyone who suddenly has a different plan of action would be outed. Only the investors potentially smiting the board with a (war)hammer will do anything, and they're still getting big enough dividends to not bother*.
*Yet! Market share collapse will change this at some point.
So this is kinda like when Putin stopped being President and became Prime Minister (or whatever) for a while. He was still in charge, just not in name.
squidhills wrote: So, what I'm gathering from this news is that we can look forward to someone picking up the 40K IP in three years when GW tanks, right?
Two things are unfortunate about this. One, that Kirby is still with company. Two, that one of the fools that was helping run the company into the ground before was put in charge.
His bio is right on the investor relations page under board members. Go read it. He's an accountant and prior to being the CEO was both the COO (chief operating officer) and the (CFO) chief financial officer. He's been implementing the board's plan for years and now he's in charge of spearheading the plan, all under the direction of the same person as before.
I wonder if they'll be promoting someone to CFO or COO as well, because expecting one person to do all three c-level jobs is asking them to put in 100 hour weeks.
Fill me in then chaps, what's this guys background? I'm assuming this isn't over-reaction and baseless comment, that just ain't Dakka!
His background is in running GW as a member of the board and heading up GWs financials, so he's already ball deep in GWs current strategies and unlikely to change anything.
However I would like to point out that GW are undergoing some changes that look promising even before Kidby left and some it must have been in the works for at least 2 years due to the lead time on projects.
Then while everyone goes on about rising prices maybe you should do some price comparisons and check your figures, Yes there was a point when prices went bonkers but now things seem to have settled a fair bit.
For example Nids are a good track.
A couple of years back we got the Tyrannofex/Tervigon kit at £35 in january an example of the serious price hikes on new kits we got the Haruspex/Exocrine at £44
Now 6 months later they have kept the price at least the same as the Jan release for the Maleceptor/Toxicrene at £44 with past trend I would have expected them to match the Harpy/Hive Crone at £48 if not breaking the £50
now just one batch of kits isn't going to convince me of a change in methods but just look across the range a little, using the Wraithknight as a benchmark as a big kit released during a time when it was undeniable that GW where price hiking like mad.
now in the nid release we're getting the Tyrannocyte that's rumoured to be as tall as the wraithknight yet is only just over half the price, with the likely popularity of the kit I was genuinely expecting it to be around the price of the harpy if not more.
Likewise Nagash a 1k point model, similar in size yet far more complex than the knight is £5 less, and The Glotkin is £66, the list goes on through the End times releases, yes they are still getting things wrong (£200 for the realm of battle board if far to much) but nowhere near as shocking as some of the things earlier this year and last.
I'd say the last time I scoffed at a price with the Mek Gun, £28 is far to much even though we at least get enough spares to scratch build extra options using the leftover barrels.
We can only hope (and likely be disappointed) that they are listening at least a bit (even if it's just that person who got the two year customer service consultant role) and that they see results that prove us right.
However I would like to point out that GW are undergoing some changes that look promising even before Kidby left and some it must have been in the works for at least 2 years due to the lead time on projects.
Then while everyone goes on about rising prices maybe you should do some price comparisons and check your figures, Yes there was a point when prices went bonkers but now things seem to have settled a fair bit.
Settling prices at a bonkers level rather than making them even more bonkers is... maybe not as hopeful as it could be.
Firefash wrote: We can only hope (and likely be disappointed) that they are listening at least a bit (even if it's just that person who got the two year customer service consultant role) and that they see results that prove us right.
The fact that their pricing is all over the shop is an indication of them not having any real idea of how to price their models combined with an unwillingness to address glaring imbalances in where they set their prices for different kits.
GW doesn't reduce prices - that would give the suggestion that their products are not worth as much as their pricing point!
That one is a problem for them and not something I expect to change. Especially in light of the new CEO, Though it's an excellent opportunity to announce a price evaluation and bring the whole structure into line across the board I'd be very surprised if they did.
Its a shame that there isn't a suitable C level exec from a mid to large company out there who is a war gaming fan and willing to troll the GW recruitment process for this job. I'd have loved to have had insight to the GW interview process for this if they had obviously qualified people applying for the job who weren't the chosen one.
Looky Likey wrote: Its a shame that there isn't a suitable C level exec from a mid to large company out there who is a war gaming fan and willing to troll the GW recruitment process for this job. I'd have loved to have had insight to the GW interview process for this if they had obviously qualified people applying for the job who weren't the chosen one.
There's nothing to suggest there wasn't. Somehow I doubt anyone was interviewed for the position other than Mr. Roundtree, if there was even an interview involved. This is an indicator of how hands-off the institutional investors who own majority shares are in the governance of the company; this appointment smacks completely like, "Well lads, who hasn't had a turn at being CEO yet?"
Looky Likey wrote: Its a shame that there isn't a suitable C level exec from a mid to large company out there who is a war gaming fan and willing to troll the GW recruitment process for this job. I'd have loved to have had insight to the GW interview process for this if they had obviously qualified people applying for the job who weren't the chosen one.
From what I read (it was hinted, not specifically stated) the guy from MasterMinis/PaintingBuddha applied for the position (the guy who is a huge miniatures geek and ex-CIO of Aldi). So it's not that people didn't, it's that GW made a dog and pony show when they knew they were going to promote from within.
EDIT: Actually, he says himself on his website that he applied for it:
Michael Bartels wrote: And I actually applied for this position as I thought that my past experience as Global CIO in a world-wide operating retail business with over 4000 stores and over 20bn in sales, combined with 21+ years of being a hardcore hobbyist and being somewhat of a miniature industry expert would be skills they might look for. Alas, like many others I know of, I wasn't even invited for an interview Maybe those are not the skills they are looking for. *handmotion*
So they knew from the start they were hiring from within, because anyone sane would have hired this guy. Executive-level experience, retail experience, hobby geek. It has GW written all over it.
Michael Bartels wrote:
And I actually applied for this position as I thought that my past experience as Global CIO in a world-wide operating retail business with over 4000 stores and over 20bn in sales, combined with 21+ years of being a hardcore hobbyist and being somewhat of a miniature industry expert would be skills they might look for. Alas, like many others I know of, I wasn't even invited for an interview Maybe those are not the skills they are looking for. *handmotion*
So they knew from the start they were hiring from within, because anyone sane would have hired this guy. Executive-level experience, retail experience, hobby geek. It has GW written all over it.
I seldom get emotional about the stupid gak GW pulls, I'm still a 40K gamer but I get as much as possible from non-GW companies now, so the prices don't phase me, if they produce a dumb model for a unit I want to field, I seek out an alternate, I'm not competitive, so while I strongly advocate for tighter, clearer, better balanced rules, I don't care if I lose as long as I have fun in the process.
I am insulated from GW as far as possible while still maintaining an interest in their product. (Let's be fair, it is essentially product singular now.)
But this?
This makes me quite angry. It simply illustrates everything we feared about GW corporate is most likely true. He shouldn't have just been offered the job, but the fact that they weren't even willing to have the conversation? Absolutely disgusting.
Well, it's worth about 33% fewer millions of pounds than it was a year ago today.
On the other hand, it's worth 100% more millions of pounds than it was today five years ago, around the time when Mr. Roundtree started his job as CFO.
Well, it's worth about 33% fewer millions of pounds than it was a year ago today.
On the other hand, it's worth 100% more millions of pounds than it was today five years ago, around the time when Mr. Roundtree started his job as CFO.
Which would be impressive if natural growth in the share market didn't account for a good percentage of that increase (the trend of the stock market is always up, if taken over a long enough period.)
It would also be more impressive of the share price hadn't imploded back in January and wiped millions off their value.
Given the list of possible potential internal candidates, there were some choices I'd rather have seen and some I would have dreaded. We got off lightly with this guy, let's see what he's about, he's been in the company since the 90s, which saw some amazing stuff from GW and he's seen the recent financial bombshells, so perhaps we'll see some changes.
MeanGreenStompa wrote: Given the list of possible potential internal candidates, there were some choices I'd rather have seen and some I would have dreaded. We got off lightly with this guy, let's see what he's about, he's been in the company since the 90s, which saw some amazing stuff from GW and he's seen the recent financial bombshells, so perhaps we'll see some changes.
I wouldn't count on it - he remained while the smart ones went elsewhere.
I like how model price comes up and we can still link to another thread that displays 12" tall fully posable plastic kits with quadruple to quintuple the sprues of a GW kit for a grand total of $65 on Amazon making a Wraithknight look like both child's play and an overpriced static mess. A plastic blob that's clam shell and tentacles to glue to it at any price above that of a drop pod is silly.
I'm surprised that they had a potential fan favorite successful C-level officer with industry enthusiasm (and experience, bruddahs!) and he wasn't even interviewed as a token gesture.
We have two points for a line. The third, coming this January, will give us a trend. We all seem to be on point on what to expect, that is if a record number of releases to include poster boys and a full edition didn't stop the loss (even factoring out the stupid incident costs like the website), then a few new bugs and some big stiff for "that game that's not as dead as the Hobbit" aren't going to turn it around.
MeanGreenStompa wrote: Given the list of possible potential internal candidates, there were some choices I'd rather have seen and some I would have dreaded. We got off lightly with this guy, let's see what he's about, he's been in the company since the 90s, which saw some amazing stuff from GW and he's seen the recent financial bombshells, so perhaps we'll see some changes.
I wouldn't count on it - he remained while the smart ones went elsewhere.
I think that's the more sensible assumption at this point, sadly. A lot of the big names and talent are all leaving or have left to do other things.
Looky Likey wrote: Its a shame that there isn't a suitable C level exec from a mid to large company out there who is a war gaming fan and willing to troll the GW recruitment process for this job. I'd have loved to have had insight to the GW interview process for this if they had obviously qualified people applying for the job who weren't the chosen one.
From what I read (it was hinted, not specifically stated) the guy from MasterMinis/PaintingBuddha applied for the position (the guy who is a huge miniatures geek and ex-CIO of Aldi). So it's not that people didn't, it's that GW made a dog and pony show when they knew they were going to promote from within.
EDIT: Actually, he says himself on his website that he applied for it:
Michael Bartels wrote:
And I actually applied for this position as I thought that my past experience as Global CIO in a world-wide operating retail business with over 4000 stores and over 20bn in sales, combined with 21+ years of being a hardcore hobbyist and being somewhat of a miniature industry expert would be skills they might look for. Alas, like many others I know of, I wasn't even invited for an interview Maybe those are not the skills they are looking for. *handmotion*
This is exactly what I was hoping for, somebody obviously qualified and willing to confirm how far they got. The average forumite isn't going to have enough of a quality CV to get anywhere near. This confirms my suspicion that they always knew who was going to get the job months ahead of time and all this talk of looking everywhere for the best and brightest was just that.
So they knew from the start they were hiring from within, because anyone sane would have hired this guy. Executive-level experience, retail experience, hobby geek. It has GW written all over it.
Bear in mind Kirby brags about not looking at CV's; it's all about covering letters and attitudes. That said, not offering an interview to a CIO from a much bigger company is pretty stupid you want to grow.
But then, I've heard [citation needed] that the GW board/CxO's don't want GW to grow so big that investors start to take over control, which is the reason for not partnering with HB/De Agnosti again, so I wouldn't be surprised if the above candidate was written off for being too good.
MrFlutterPie wrote: In all honesty did anybody really and truly expect GW's new CEO would change the status quo?
I have always expected nothing to change with the new CEO.
*Business as usual*
Thread isn't even a day old.
Did you expect them to change the status quo within 24 hours?
It seems people are disappointed that nobody from this forum became CEO
MeanGreenStompa wrote: Given the list of possible potential internal candidates, there were some choices I'd rather have seen and some I would have dreaded. We got off lightly with this guy, let's see what he's about, he's been in the company since the 90s, which saw some amazing stuff from GW and he's seen the recent financial bombshells, so perhaps we'll see some changes.
If I were you, I'd go and see a doctor about that terrible case of optimism fever you're suffering from
We've both been in the hobby long enough to know that GW will change its approach on the same day Lord Lucan walks into the Old Bailey.
TheKbob wrote: I like how model price comes up and we can still link to another thread that displays 12" tall fully posable plastic kits with quadruple to quintuple the sprues of a GW kit for a grand total of $65 on Amazon making a Wraithknight look like both child's play and an overpriced static mess. A plastic blob that's clam shell and tentacles to glue to it at any price above that of a drop pod is silly.
I'm surprised that they had a potential fan favorite successful C-level officer with industry enthusiasm (and experience, bruddahs!) and he wasn't even interviewed as a token gesture.
We have two points for a line. The third, coming this January, will give us a trend. We all seem to be on point on what to expect, that is if a record number of releases to include poster boys and a full edition didn't stop the loss (even factoring out the stupid incident costs like the website), then a few new bugs and some big stiff for "that game that's not as dead as the Hobbit" aren't going to turn it around. ... .
To go slightly off topic, as a Tyranid player I have looked at some of the new kits but, since the core rules and codex are too expensive and I did not buy them, there was no point in my giving the additional units more than a cursory glance.
As usual, once a company loses its original founders as directors, and goes public, it loses all control and has sold its soul for (often temporary) profit, in exchange for long-term losses.
You could argue that, looking at the previous financials, putting an accountant in charge is exactly what the company requires (purely from the business perspective of course - I don't think anyone really expects a radical change of policy or a more customer-friendly company).
You could argue that, looking at the previous financials, putting an accountant in charge is exactly what the company requires (purely from the business perspective of course - I don't think anyone really expects a radical change of policy or a more customer-friendly company).
If said accountant was an external hire who could come in and shake some sense into the board, even just as you say in the business sense, sure, but this guy is your standard Kirbydroid 7000 who's been occupying two of the most senior c-level jobs in the company for years now; it's highly unlikely he thinks there's anything wrong with the current direction.
Wheels would require the GW bus to go to its customers. They must ensure everyone will come to them, so it's just a building - painted in Imperial Fist yellow.
Wheels would require the GW bus to go to its customers. They must ensure everyone will come to them, so it's just a building - painted in Imperial Fist yellow.
With crumbling fortress walls and a moat being slowly filled in with detritus...
The only reason you put a CFO in as a CEO is because the board does not want change and they are fairly happy with the direction the company is heading. Most CFOs think they can run a company because this is rarely true. What they are capable is maintaining the status quo and continuing to implement the current strategies while cutting costs.
They really need to get someone to take one of Rountree's three c-level responsibilities. The sheer number of hours he'll have to spend at the office to do everything a CFO, COO and CEO do for a international company with retail locations will be killer.
Now it's entirely possible that he's going to really just continue to be CFO/COO and Kirby and the other non-executive members will split the CEO duties with Rountree as a puppet/name.
frozenwastes wrote: Now it's entirely possible that he's going to really just continue to be CFO/COO and Kirby and the other non-executive members will split the CEO duties with Rountree as a puppet/name.
That would be my assumption. It's just business as usual with the same people functionally doing the same things.
Games Workshop has a new CEO in place. Here's the latest on what the change will mean for the next year:
via Steve the Warboss 11-16-2014
After the reorganisation of the Managment, the replacement of Kirby and the switch of CEO, GW will have probably some more little changes in the assortment:
Look for these changes:
-The number of limited releases will increase
-More classic GW games (Epic, Mortheim, ...) should be released in "all-in-one" Boxed Sets with limited run (like Space Hulk)
-In contrast to rumors that have been wrong, there is internally a serious discussion of FW
-There are plans to integrate FW in the core assortment, how to be solved is not yet clear
The following is a speculation by me (The Source):
-Horus Heres is very successful, GW wants so sell FW-Products in their Stores and the Webpage to increase sales, but they don't know how FW will Produce their range in higher numbers
-I expect an extension of FW in 2015 with larger capacities and the sale of products at GW in 2016
So we've heard much of this before, so let's take these in turn.
-More classic GW games (Epic, Mortheim, ...) should be released in "all-in-one" Boxed Sets with limited run (like Space Hulk)
This one makes me think the whole set of rumours is a flight of fancy. A, because the person can't spell 'Mordheim', and B because doing something like this would involve development & playtesting time, and take those people away from creating a new 40k codex. Also, if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is
Kirby: "Morning Kev. First day as CEO, feels good, doesn't it?
Kevin: "Damn right Tom. Feels awesome!!"
Kirby: "Anyhow... to business. As new CEO, it'll be your vision that will safe this company. Do you have a strategy in mind."
Kevin: "Sure Tom, we'll gonna re-do Epic as a limited edition next year!"
Kirby: "But..."
Kevin: "And Necromunda. Gotta do Necromunda."
Kirby: "But the releases for next year are done already."
Kevin: "Don't care. Also, Plastic Thunderhawk."
Kirby: "Whatever. If it makes you happy. But what about the retail chain? You have any plans for our logistics? Finance? Will we pay dividends next year? Do we increase or decrease staff levels?"
Kevin: "Do I look like some stupid accountant? Gotta make plastic Heresy stuff."
Kevin peels off Mission Impossible-mask, revealing his true identity as an undercover-BOLS-neckbeard, who infiltrated GW management.
Kirby: "But.... but... P/E Ratio? Cash Reserves? Regional expansions?"
Kevin: "muhahaha... and I've let BOLS know of all my secret plans. There is no stopping me now. We'll even be doing Mordheim..... *evil laughter*"
Games Workshop has a new CEO in place. Here's the latest on what the change will mean for the next year:
via Steve the Warboss 11-16-2014
After the reorganisation of the Managment, the replacement of Kirby and the switch of CEO, GW will have probably some more little changes in the assortment:
Look for these changes:
-The number of limited releases will increase
-More classic GW games (Epic, Mortheim, ...) should be released in "all-in-one" Boxed Sets with limited run (like Space Hulk)
-In contrast to rumors that have been wrong, there is internally a serious discussion of FW
-There are plans to integrate FW in the core assortment, how to be solved is not yet clear
The following is a speculation by me (The Source):
-Horus Heres is very successful, GW wants so sell FW-Products in their Stores and the Webpage to increase sales, but they don't know how FW will Produce their range in higher numbers
-I expect an extension of FW in 2015 with larger capacities and the sale of products at GW in 2016
So we've heard much of this before, so let's take these in turn.
Re: Mortheim rather than Mordheim: That doesnt mean much. Could be a german source (it was sold as Mortheim in Germany, since "murderhome" mightve been a bit too... crass, I guess. <.< )
Tyr13 wrote: Re: Mortheim rather than Mordheim: That doesnt mean much. Could be a german source (it was sold as Mortheim in Germany, since "murderhome" mightve been a bit too... crass, I guess. <.< )
Looky Likey wrote: Its a shame that there isn't a suitable C level exec from a mid to large company out there who is a war gaming fan and willing to troll the GW recruitment process for this job. I'd have loved to have had insight to the GW interview process for this if they had obviously qualified people applying for the job who weren't the chosen one.
From what I read (it was hinted, not specifically stated) the guy from MasterMinis/PaintingBuddha applied for the position (the guy who is a huge miniatures geek and ex-CIO of Aldi). So it's not that people didn't, it's that GW made a dog and pony show when they knew they were going to promote from within.
EDIT: Actually, he says himself on his website that he applied for it:
Michael Bartels wrote:
And I actually applied for this position as I thought that my past experience as Global CIO in a world-wide operating retail business with over 4000 stores and over 20bn in sales, combined with 21+ years of being a hardcore hobbyist and being somewhat of a miniature industry expert would be skills they might look for. Alas, like many others I know of, I wasn't even invited for an interview Maybe those are not the skills they are looking for. *handmotion*
This is exactly what I was hoping for, somebody obviously qualified and willing to confirm how far they got. The average forumite isn't going to have enough of a quality CV to get anywhere near. This confirms my suspicion that they always knew who was going to get the job months ahead of time and all this talk of looking everywhere for the best and brightest was just that.
So they knew from the start they were hiring from within, because anyone sane would have hired this guy. Executive-level experience, retail experience, hobby geek. It has GW written all over it.
Just for the record, he was not the only qualified person who did not make it to an interview (I happen to personally know of another).
Regardless of the "The Board undertook a thorough process in selecting our new CEO...." I hope Roundtree does well - and he can actually embrace some of the (non rant) commentary going around the internet.
If that fails, I doubt he could do worse....
Another one of BoLS that i thought i would share just for giggles, would take with plenty of salt-
40K Rumors: Your Favorite Rules Format Returns!
Posted by Larry Vela at 11/20/2014 37 Comments
It's been barely 2 years and the latest rumors say 40K rules future is looking towards the past.
via Steve the Warboss:
-Shield of Baal: Leviathan (and all later releases Expansions for 40k) will return in Softcover.
-Armybooks, Codices and Suppliments will all come sometime next year in Softcover Versions with a lower price.
If this pans out, I have very high hopes for new CEO Kevin Roundtree. Decisions like this indicate a rolling back of the "all collectors all the time" presentation that 40K and WFB have become of late.
It reflects a business pragmatism that accepts the wide financial spectrum of the GW customerbase out there.
It acknowleges that yes there is a segment of the GW customerbase that indeed wants the ultra-elite leatherbound, scented with myrhh, gold-leafed editions of codices. BUT there are ALSO a lot of customers who want value priced rulebooks that allow them to put more of their hard earned cash into the fantastic GW models.
Whilst I look forward to (reasonably priced*) softcover books, none of that will have anything to do with the appointment of a new CEO, who doesn't start in his position for another 2 months.
It's hopefully just that the company have noticed a massive decline in sales and are trying to do something about it, and are actually getting the occasional thing correct.
*I had high hopes for the mini-rulebook as well, but was pretty disappointed there.
