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Al Dunlap and Sunbeam

Decent Essays

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
MEMORANDUM

DATE: September 14, 2011
SUBJECT: Al Dunlap at Sunbeam analysis

Introduction
This memo will reflect on and analyze the decisions of the Sunbeam Board of Directors during Albert Dunlap’s tenure as CEO. This analysis will include an overview of Sunbeam’s goals, evaluation of 1996 – 1997 and 1998 compensation package, assessment of the firing decision by BOD and the overall governance of the BOD.
Sunbeam’s Goals
Dunlap is famous for his ruthless but seemingly successful turnaround techniques that he has employed: “For much of his career before coming to Sunbeam, Al Dunlap was known as the poster child of corporate restructuring.” Given that the Board was familiar with …show more content…

Evaluation of Dunlap’s compensation package
The first compensation package offered to Dunlap (the 1996 – 1997 compensation package) was well designed in the consideration of merely improving the stock prices and the company’s market value in the short term. It consists of a salary of 507,054, no bonus but well over 16 millions in stock options. The package design was obviously shortsighted and focused primarily on the profits and share value as expected and lacked incentive to create long-term value. The company’s other values, such as culture, employees and customers had absolutely no value in this model. Furthermore, the package even encouraged Dunlap to forego long-term initiatives at the expense of employee’s benefits and the company’s social responsibility and long-term profitability in order to drive up the stock price.
The second compensation package doubled his salary to 1 million and increased his stock options as well. It was unnecessary and excessive as his performance was already tied to the huge amount of stock he already owned. The new contract is even more absurd: 2 million in salary and additional stocks, as Graef Crystal – compensation consultant – commented, “He likes to portray himself as swashbuckling CEO, but real men don’t take $2 million salaries and lot s of free stock. He’s a pay wimp, when it comes down to it.” Although Dunlap rationale suggested, “You can’t overpay a great executive,” why did

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