CEOs of character
When it comes to leadership shots in corporate reports we’ve seen it all: Pink backgrounds, holding props, back to the shop floor, in meaningful conversation and, of course, straight to camera with various portions of head, shoulders, knees and toes, either alone or together with other company big wigs.
What we haven’t seen quite so many of is the kind on show in this April’s Management Today and last month at London’s Whitechapel Gallery: Britain’s bosses showing some character. Some of their own volition and others, we suspect, not.
There’s Todd Stitzer with pink and yellow Liquorice Allsorts held up to his eyes, Philip Green with his tongue out, Alex Ferguson (wait for it) smiling cheekily and Terry Leahy in front of a wall of Tesco Value kitchen towels. Barbara Stocking in her Mickey Mouse slippers probably caps the lot!
Ah, if only annual reports had character shots a little more often than they do. What they have is position shots, portraits that show the men and women of the board are up to the job and one of the executive set. So rarely do they reveal what these people bring to the job, the passion they have for their product or the something special that makes them a great leader and one to engage with.
There are some exceptions in the 2010 annual reports out there. Marjorie Scardino at Pearson, after a good decade in the job, continues to avoid poker face with an animated look and smile that communicate she still loves what does. Paul Polmon of Unilever looks a man of action with something different to say (he has!). Chris Hyman at Serco looks a man of confidence, with a smile that invites you in to participate rather than stay at bay, a vibe so many chief executives give off.
With our quick bit of dipstick research on leadership photography in this year’s annual reports, a surprising lack of video being used amongst the FTSE100s. A medium too revealing of character for some perhaps? They’ll have to dip their toe into the water (again) at some point. It’s the medium that’s definitely not going to go away.