Introducing the 2007 Amazing Disgrace Awards

THE DIVAGATOR is now preparing the 1st-annual Amazing Disgrace Awards which will be given to the worst CEOs of US-based public companies. There will be one overall winner and also winners of companies in the following categories:

• Basic Materials
• Conglomerates
• Consumer Goods
• Financial
• Healthcare
• Industrial Goods
• Services
• Technology
• Utilities

The dishonor will be awarded based on several criteria, some objective, some not. Primarily, I will look each company’s financial condition, stock performance, executive compensation package, corporate-governance ratings, and, broadly, ethical behavior in order to determine worthy candidates. Coupled with that will be a rather subjective analysis of each company’s general health and competitive position since the CEO assumed leadership. In most cases, I will not consider CEOs who have been on the job for less than 18 months. The award winners will be named some time in January.

If any of the esteemed readers of this weblog have suggestions, please send them along to me at blogbox@speakeasy.net. Please include a short rationale for why each candidate should be considered.

I’ve kicked around whether the recipients of this award should receive a little trophy with which to remember the occasion. Perhaps a lifelike model of Haemadipsa picta, carved from sycamore (a.k.a. buttonwood) and lovingly hand-painted?