Filed under, "Things a CEO should never, ever, under any circumstances say to the media," comes the following damning quote from Time Warner boss Richard Parsons. Responding to a question about his critics that compare Rupert Murdoch's passion with his own rather sedate technique, Parsons said, *"He inherited a fairly small newspaper operation in Adelaide 50 years ago and has been relentlessly building it into a global media goliath. I think of myself as a professional manager. I am not trying to build a dynasty or create a monument. I know this comment will upset some people, but this is my job. It’s not my life. I don’t define myself by this." *
These are exactly the kinds of comments shareholders dread hearing from a CEO. Parsons currently lords over AOL, Time Warner Cable, Warner Bros., The CW Television Network, Time Inc., Turner Broadcasting System and CNN, and HBO. If you've been wondering why any of those brands (say, AOL, for instance) are not as competitive as they could be, you now have your answer.
