Sunday, January 24, 2010

Another High-Profile Director's CV, Scrubbed -- Of Schering-Plough Stint


This time it is C. Robert Kidder (pictured, at right) -- former lead director of Morgan Stanley, and of Schering-Plough. I find this revision specifically remarkable, because his long-time lead director seat at Morgan Stanley was a "turnaround" role, and is prominently mentioned in the below article on his leadship of the "New" Chrysler. The Dispatch story below details his continuing "turnaround" role at the American auto maker. [See Patricia Russo version, here.]

And so -- the theory would go -- his putative Schering-Plough "turnaround" role on that pharma's board would deserve an extended, and natural mention (were it more widely actually viewed that way), right?

Right. But the only mention of his pharma experience, in this rather comprehensive run-down of his history, all the way back prior to his days at McKinsey & Co., is a mention of New Merck. Odd. Or perhaps not so. In any event, compare the below to this older one -- back when Schering-Plough still existed, last summer (Schering role prominently mentioned), and Kidder had just recently been selected to lead Chrysler in its hoped-for turnaround. Here is the current snippet from the Columbus Dispatch; but do go read it all:

. . . .He has kept a low profile as Chrysler chairman, while the company's CEO, Fiat's Sergio Marchionne, has become the public face of the new Chrysler. Marchionne is well-known for revitalizing Fiat, and he is recognizable for his almost-eccentric fondness for black crew-neck sweaters.

But who is Robert Kidder? He was born in New York, raised in Toronto, and graduated from the University of Michigan. As a young man, he worked at a Ford assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. In the 1970s, he worked for the consulting firm that helped Ford come up with the succession plan to replace Henry Ford II.

His executive experience, however, is outside the auto industry.

He was chairman and CEO of Duracell International in the 1980s and moved on to the same roles at Columbus-based Borden Inc. in the 1990s. After he left Borden, he remained in central Ohio and helped lead a series of ventures, including an investment firm, 3Stone Advisors, and the now-defunct Skybus Airlines.

In addition, he serves on the boards of Morgan Stanley and Merck & Co. . . .

That's it -- the only hint that he ever was a part of a bust-up styled as a turnaround in pharma. Heh. These folks sure are kind to themselves.

Oh -- and to get out ahead of the curve, here -- before anyone asks after it -- here is c. Robert Kidder's Muckety Map:


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