Since I write this blog (when I write it) primarily for our Thomas Nelson employees, this will likely be old news. But, I felt this is probably something I should document for the sake of the few readers who won’t get the news any other way.
On Thursday, August 18, the Thomas Nelson Board of Directors made me the new CEO. Sam Moore, the former CEO, who had held the job for forty-seven years, will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board. You can read the press release here. My new title is “President & Chief Executive Officer.”
Mr. Moore made the announcement at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, which was held immediately after the Board meeting. He gave me a gavel with my name, the date, and my new title inscribed on it. Obviously, he had been thinking about it for a while, but I only learned of his decision and the Board’s the day before.
At the Shareholders’ Meeting, Mr. Moore gave me a five-fold charge:
- Make your family your top priority and remain faithful to your wife. (Actually, he said it a little more colorfully than this, but this is what he meant.)
- Take care of your customers and your authors. If you do this, everything else will take care of itself.
- Be kind to your employees. You have to take care of those who take care of you.
- Be careful with the overhead. “A CEO has to have one glass eye and one real eye.” He has to be able to say, “No.”
- Remember your old man (Mr. Moore). “He’s the one who brought you to the dance.”
I was very touched by his words. He is a tough act to follow. When the tenure of the average CEO today is five years, his forty-seven years as CEO are particularly noteworthy. He’s been more than a CEO; he’s the patriarch of our company. I’m convinced that people will still be celebrating his life and legacy a hundred years from now.
Building Champions has been coaching me since 2002. They have taught me to be more proactive and intentional in both my business and personal life. Visit their Web site to learn more and see their special offer for my blog readers.
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Congratulations, Mr. Hayatt. I’ve so enjoyed your blogs and, as one of those “few readers who won’t get the news any other way” I thank you for sharing the announcement.
Congratulations! I too enjoy your blog (when you write it ;-) and wish you all the best.
Mike — You know you have my best wishes and congrats. You will do an excellent job!
One word of advice: BLOG MORE!!! ;-)
As a customer, I would encourage you to take point 2 to heart when it comes to your blogs. You should continue what you start.
Promotion
Congratulations to Michael Hyatt, who is going to have to change the graphic on his blog after his promotion yesterday. (What Mr. Hyatt doesn’t know, is that when I finally get around to writing my Christian-worldview technothriller, I will relen…
Congratulations. I pray that Nelson will prosper under your leadership.