Plight of Many a Modern CEO in US

choi

Monica Langley, Two Activists Put One CEO on the Spot; Mondelez boss Rosenfeld hears often from investors Peltz and Ackman. Wall Street Journal, Dec 16, 2015 (front page).
http://www.wsj.com/articles/two- ... the-spot-1450230598

the first six paragraphs:

"Irene Rosenfeld, chief executive of snack-food giant Mondelez International [formed 'in 2012 in a split from Kraft Foods Inc'], has been getting a lot of unsolicited advice these days.

"After Halloween, Nelson Peltz, one of two big activist investors holding Mondelez stock, called to tell her that his 12-year-old twins had rummaged through their treats and tossed their bags aside. Children were eating less candy, he said, and Mondelez had to adjust.

"Another activist, William Ackman, has been pestering Ms. Rosenfeld, a veteran marketer, to slash the number of products and change her advertising plans.

" 'I’m frustrated * * *' she said in a recent interview. 'I’m successfully running Mondelez for all shareholders—without the activists’ help [these two guys' help].'

"* * * She says addressing their concerns consumes one-quarter of her time.

"It is a challenge that more chief executives are facing these days: trying to engage with powerful activists without ceding authority.

My comment: There is no need to read the rest.