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When a company announces someone is stepping down that usually means that the person involved has lost a power struggle against the the big boss and has no option but to fall on his sword. Obviously he failed the saving throw.

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but despite the endless predictions of hellfire and brimstone

No one sensible has been claiming that, a slow steady decline leading to an eventual collapse/buy out is the most common prediction. So far it seems the most likely outcome as well.

We will have to see what the latest financials have to say though.

Sales are decreasing, year on year.

That is not wishing the doom of the company, that's just fact.

They didnt decrease as fast last year (despite some finanical jiggery pokery with the results) so its possible that their decent has been slowed, maybe even stabilised.

Seems to me that as other people have said GW are stripping the fat from the company. Regarding the competition, I don't see so many people stopping playing, just not buying direct. Also when you look at the competition you see companies with a smaller turnover doing more exciting things. Added to that is the weird Forgeworld phenomenon of more expensive models being more popular which has only gotten stronger since they started doing Horus Heresy products.

Regardless of the prices debate, GW do need to look at why Black Library and Forgeword (who I would have thought were supposed to be smaller subsidiaries of the main Studio) are generating more excitement than the main 40k and Fantasy releases. They also need to consider what is going to happen to the IP rights that THQ had.

Bloodwin wrote:
Seems to me that as other people have said GW are stripping the fat from the company. Regarding the competition, I don't see so many people stopping playing, just not buying direct. Also when you look at the competition you see companies with a smaller turnover doing more exciting things. Added to that is the weird Forgeworld phenomenon of more expensive models being more popular which has only gotten stronger since they started doing Horus Heresy products.

Regardless of the prices debate, GW do need to look at why Black Library and Forgeword (who I would have thought were supposed to be smaller subsidiaries of the main Studio) are generating more excitement than the main 40k and Fantasy releases. They also need to consider what is going to happen to the IP rights that THQ had.

GW will probably have a say on where their IP goes as part of their contract with THQ/relic.

Palindrome wrote:

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but despite the endless predictions of hellfire and brimstone

No one sensible has been claiming that, a slow steady decline leading to an eventual collapse/buy out is the most common prediction. So far it seems the most likely outcome as well.

We will have to see what the latest financials have to say though.

I would counter your statement with the fact that the majority of the anit-GW folks (and the internet as a whole) hardly present sensible arguements. However at any given moment dakka seems to have 1-3 threads going about the downfall of GW and how X is the breaking point for people giving up the game.

Depending on which business school of thought you come from GW is either in a decent place or on a long road to trouble. GW's business model seems to be based on delivering short term success to its share holders (not uncommon for a publicly traded Niche company) however there are some pretty clear IMO indicators that point to long term issues, as you pointed out.

Maybe Mr. Wells is heading over to DSC and Beyond the Gates of Antares?!?

 Alpharius wrote:
Maybe Mr. Wells is heading over to DSC and Beyond the Gates of Antares?!?

That was my first thought. Seemed a bit cruel to voice it since many appear apprehensive about Mr. Wells.

I was only joking when I said that!

 Alpharius wrote:
I was only joking when I said that!

its all fun and games till Wells takes over your game...

 ironicsilence wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
I was only joking when I said that!

its all fun and games till Wells takes over your game...

Coming to your game. And raising your prices.

I like how the news "piece" ends "These changes take immediate effect." You can just hear the crack of the whip in the background.

Swiftly followed by a bellowed "Back to work you scoundrels".

Ha ha. Wheres my monocle, when I need it?

oh, conspiracy theory time! Rat leaving a sinking ship or pushed out by Kirby in a power struggle? Maybe Wells has seen the sales figures for The Hobbit and has decided to go before the next quarter's financials are published.

There might not be much to this story, people move from one company to another all the time, maybe he just had a better offer. Anyway, I doubt this will make a great difference to the customer.

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
oh, conspiracy theory time! Rat leaving a sinking ship or pushed out by Kirby in a power struggle? Maybe Wells has seen the sales figures for The Hobbit and has decided to go before the next quarter's financials are published.

There might not be much to this story, people move from one company to another all the time, maybe he just had a better offer. Anyway, I doubt this will make a great difference to the customer.

Well having a good look through the story it is being fairly frank and open and can probably be taken at face value (!!!!!) about the position Mark had that the company now considers redundant. This can only mean a few things.

The company really has evolved to the point where higher management can be completely removed. Seems unlikely but this could happen depending on the procedures put in place that have lead to a functional organisation without the need for Mark, or employees (here Kirby or other management) simply extending their influence. These changes could have been deliberately brought in by Kirby to undermine the position and reduce it's overall importance to the company. Possible. Though the article expresses surprise at his decision to leave suggesting no one wanted him to leave suggesting he did this completely of his own judgement even though no one wanted it. Which suggests the "organisation" (read Kirby) was happy to simply have Mark as a figurehead even with reduced importance. - So why leave

There could be any number of reasons.

Maybe he couldn't handle the pressure of it, cracked and has been slowly moving to make his way out of the door for sometime. Maybe he sees that he is just a puppet to the dividend hungry "investors" and is unhappy that he is basically given the job of s******g the workforce he likes to fill the pockets of some already way too rich kid. IDK

I am no doubt sure Mark is going to be well set for the future. This means he no doubt has plans for what he wants to do in the future. It is a bit of a waste to be in a company with such influence and have non of that. To be a figurehead however liked just isn't some peoples cup of tea.

So probably it is anyone's guess. But that's my 2 cents

also in todays day and age a CEO's lifespan isnt very long. To survive 5 years is a success

Mattman154 wrote:

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
The prices will go up, but I feel many of us, myself included, will whine and moan but would eventually just open our wallets up a little bit further. And I think they know that.

I also like people that "stick it to GW" by buying things from an online retailer. Morons

Actually a reasonable middle ground for those wishing to continue buying GW minis.

This restricts the income to GW as they only get the wholesale price, saves the consumer some cash on the rrp and also supports an independent retailer which will likely stock other ranges, allowing competitors the chance to grow.

Not all that moronic in the grand scheme of things, and this is what I do in the main. In fact I took a 30 mile trip to buy paint this week rather than go to the GW in walking distance.

Every little helps and if everyone followed suit it would send a very loud message to GW management.

 azreal13 wrote:

Mattman154 wrote:

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
The prices will go up, but I feel many of us, myself included, will whine and moan but would eventually just open our wallets up a little bit further. And I think they know that.

I also like people that "stick it to GW" by buying things from an online retailer. Morons

Actually a reasonable middle ground for those wishing to continue buying GW minis.

This restricts the income to GW as they only get the wholesale price, saves the consumer some cash on the rrp and also supports an independent retailer which will likely stock other ranges, allowing competitors the chance to grow.

Not all that moronic in the grand scheme of things, and this is what I do in the main. In fact I took a 30 mile trip to buy paint this week rather than go to the GW in walking distance.

Every little helps and if everyone followed suit it would send a very loud message to GW management.

Hang on.

you would rather pay for transport for 30miles to pick up some paint?!

I admire your spirit though.

 Dentry wrote:

 Happygrunt wrote:
Am I correct in assuming that the end times have begun?

Vulkan might return for the End Time. As would Russ for his so called Wolf Time.

And the Lion will return for the end time.....

But regarding up or down.... Hope while you can. In the end its all just a ploy by the Lord of intrigue .

Mr.Burning wrote:

Hang on.

you would rather pay for transport for 30miles to pick up some paint?!

I admire your spirit though.

It's a store I'd not visited before, they're quite new and our club is trying to build a relationship with them, plus they do a blanket 20% off everything. So there's a little more to it.

Would have bought more but unfortunately their range is still a bit small and they didn't have anything that said buy me now!

I

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
oh, conspiracy theory time! Rat leaving a sinking ship or pushed out by Kirby in a power struggle? Maybe Wells has seen the sales figures for The Hobbit and has decided to go before the next quarter's financials are published.

There might not be much to this story, people move from one company to another all the time, maybe he just had a better offer. Anyway, I doubt this will make a great difference to the customer.

Kirby was brought in by Bryan Ansell when he bought out Steve Jackson back in the mid 80's. Kirby bought out Bryan Ansell back in the late 80's/early 90's and took GW public. Kirby heading to the US may have signaled Wells trying to relegate/oust Kirby in turn. Possibility board/ major shareholders were not happy with Well's direction/decisions. Given the Hobbit release does not factor into these numbers, but are know by GW, may be the real reason for his departure. Failure of a very anticipated product is normally grounds for upper management to fall in its sword.

 azreal13 wrote:

Mattman154 wrote:

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
The prices will go up, but I feel many of us, myself included, will whine and moan but would eventually just open our wallets up a little bit further. And I think they know that.

I also like people that "stick it to GW" by buying things from an online retailer. Morons

Actually a reasonable middle ground for those wishing to continue buying GW minis.

This is where I find people to be morons. If someone is at the point where they want to actively screw over GW, why would they give them their business at all?

Mattman154 wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

Mattman154 wrote:

 noneoftheabove0 wrote:
The prices will go up, but I feel many of us, myself included, will whine and moan but would eventually just open our wallets up a little bit further. And I think they know that.

I also like people that "stick it to GW" by buying things from an online retailer. Morons

Actually a reasonable middle ground for those wishing to continue buying GW minis.

This is where I find people to be morons. If someone is at the point where they want to actively screw over GW, why would they give them their business at all?

I don't want to 'actively screw over GW' Like many I love playing the game, the fluff and many other aspects, it's been part of my life for nearly a quarter century.

I do find their apparent attitude and some of their actions distasteful though and I go out of my way to reduce the amount of cash they get from me if I can, without cutting off my nose to spite my face.

This world isn't binary, there are shades of grey. You can choose to walk a middle ground. This appears to be news to you.

Also, please stop implying I'm a moron, or I'll get cross.

 Dentry wrote:

 ironicsilence wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
I was only joking when I said that!

its all fun and games till Wells takes over your game...

Coming to your game. And raising your prices.

Permission to use your image sir

Wasn't there a rule preventing the seat of the High Lord of the Administratum and the Holy Synod of the Ecclesiarch from being occupied by the same person?

A Reign of Blood thing, I seem to remember.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Permission to use your image sir

That image belongs to Google. Use away!

budman over at Warseer wrote:Having just spoken to gw as per my day job they are not going to start looking for New CEO for some time...

Time for the Chair to grant the CEO better payment

static grass over at Warseer wrote:And in an amazing coincidence someone decided to invest nearly £6 million in GW
http://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Microsoft-Word-Sleep-Zakaria-Notification-8.pdf

BTW does someone remember why GW was forced to split the position of CEO and Chair, that 5 years ago were both held by Tom Kirby. He obviously continued to hold both positions inofficially, making Wells redundant, and has returned to officially hold both positions now.

the timing does seem odd for someone to buy 17% voting rights in the company

Why would there be / what could be the connection there?

Getting 2 votes on the board and then getting more by buying share? Or something...?

silent25 wrote:

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
oh, conspiracy theory time! Rat leaving a sinking ship or pushed out by Kirby in a power struggle? Maybe Wells has seen the sales figures for The Hobbit and has decided to go before the next quarter's financials are published.

There might not be much to this story, people move from one company to another all the time, maybe he just had a better offer. Anyway, I doubt this will make a great difference to the customer.

Kirby was brought in by Bryan Ansell when he bought out Steve Jackson back in the mid 80's. Kirby bought out Bryan Ansell back in the late 80's/early 90's and took GW public. Kirby heading to the US may have signaled Wells trying to relegate/oust Kirby in turn. Possibility board/ major shareholders were not happy with Well's direction/decisions. Given the Hobbit release does not factor into these numbers, but are know by GW, may be the real reason for his departure. Failure of a very anticipated product is normally grounds for upper management to fall in its sword.

.


No that was at the same time as the HQ move to Memphis, Kirby was likely here to oversee that operation, probably not a power-play at that time.