Gibson Guitar – “Demanding Culture, Not for Everyone”

Gibson does not dominate the industry and is losing share because of insane CEO micromanagement and incredibly stupid business decisions. Fender has higher total share across all brands it owns, so this post has zero credibility. I can only think somebody posted this as a joke to see responses. Gibson has the absolute worst business practices, culture, org structure and approach to business. It could be a multi-Billion dollar company but is being held back by a CEO that is ruining the company and the brand. Gibson had some of the best exec talent, but the CEO refuses to let them do their job and then fires them in 3-6 months or they quit because thay can't take the abuse or insanity. It is goal driven alright, but goals are either never clearly defined, are set so unrealistically high they are impossible to achieve, or efforts are sabotaged by the CEO at every turn that it makes it impossible to deliver. The only thing Henry works hard at is making it a miserable place to work. The Gibson Foundation is a good cause but is basically a platform for the CEO to stroke his ego and attend black tie parties in NYC. He is the laughing stock of the industry and nobody takes him seriously. Everyone respects the brand and the historic guitar designs (all of which happened before Henry), so in reality he has created nothing new that works and has done nothing over the years but hold the company back and waste huge amounts of money on delusional marketing tactics and ridiculous "technology" products nobody wants.

Nice attempt to boost your approval rating Henry…but once again you are only kidding yourself. Wake up!

Best business practices…best business practices? So NOT PAYING YOUR BILLS…that’s a BEST BUSINESS PRACTICE!?! Yes Gibson is one of the best brands in the world, a money could make money selling a Les Paul…so why can’t you make money doing it? You attempted to replicate your ‘best practices’ on Oberheim, Trace Elliot, Goldtone Amps, OpCode, Tobias, Slingerland, Kramer, Steinberger, Valley Arts, Baldwin, Wurlitzer…the list goes on and on…your track record of failure far exceeds the genius of turning a tiny business called ‘Gibson’ around. You made money in spite of your incredibly horrible management style. Hiring some of the best people in marketing and management only to berate them in an attempt to ‘prove to someone…yourself’ that you are the boss and the smartest person in the room. Who is the smartest guy in the room? The one that fires people who have better ideas, or the guy who is being paid to be in the room, but instead is at home earning a 6 figure salary for 6 to 12 months and doesn’t have to even show up for work because you ‘know better?’ Let me be the’ idiot’ that just doesn’t get it…therefore fails in your eyes and gets paid to not work.

You are fooling no one…especially the bank. I’m thinking a best business practice would be to avoid borrowing so much money and choking on the interest payments. If you can’t buy wood, you can’t make guitars, if you can’t make guitars you are done…nice management…

All of us who are ex Gibson employees would like to know.....how long have you been with Gibson? If you truly mean what you write, you won't mind answering this question to boost Gibson's credibility.

It would be hard to believe that anyone other than HJ wrote this.

Nice try, Hank...

This post has to be a joke just to get a reaction...

Hi Henry! Padding your results again I see, still only up to 15%

The person who posted this must be retarted or a liar....maybe completely insane. Or Henry himself.

This is not all that surprising, check out his posts on the Gibson forum, username gplayer100.

This thing reads exactly like Henry speaks and writes. There is no way this way not him, or somebody pretending to be him, wait, who would do that? Mercy. If you're going to do this crap, Hank, at least try to hide it.

Let people do their job Henry. Plus you DO NOT dominate the industry and are losing market share in Gibson, and Baldwin, Wurlitzer, Tobias, etc. are all on the ropes. Butt out and take a long (or permanent) vacation. You'll be amazed at the better shape the company is in after you get back.

...before you will be filing for Chapter 11, followed shortly thereafter by Chapter 7. How could any CEO with a global corporation on the verge of financial collapse possibly have the time and energy to routinely monitor (and subsequently post their own delusional feedback on) websites such as this? I'm not at all sure how you'll fare in bankruptcy court, but in the court of public opinion, this is clearly a battle that you cannot win.

In the spirit of honesty and fairness to those who might still consider working underneath you at some point in the future, please consider using this revised title on your next post:

"Destructive Culture, Not for Anyone".

Really. Henry, you are so bush league that it's laughable... except for all the lives you have either ruined or negatively effected.

I'm sorry but it is rather "a psychopath led culture, not for anyone". The CEO defines "chronic disregard for ethical principles and antisocial behavior".

I don't think Henry posted this, but I think I know who did. There are several people at Gibson Corporate who have their own agenda and will do anything to anyone to get ahead. Whether it be stabbing co-workers in the back or personally lobbying Henry for the 'perceived' job they are 'qualified' for.