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NEWS: Multiple Anime Expo Staffers Resign in Board Dispute

While it's cool to blame the executive types and all, frankly, I'm not buying the one-sided finger pointing one bit. Let's not forget the fact that he is a big name, and successful executive who has organized and run operations far heftier than this in the past.

Plus, AX is no stranger to drama amongst its staff, so part of me has to wonder if the whole "clash" here is amongst two sides who equally refuse to do things any other way than theirs. From past incidents it seems that these staffers are prone to problems and drama, which I refuse to believe wasn't a contributing factor here. Part of me is beginning to think this is all a bunch of drama from staffers who are used to pulling strings and bumped in to an exec that wasn't going to let them.

Honestly, it just seems like AX grew too big for just the volunteers and staffers to do along without experience, but once the business world came in they couldn't handle the compromise and drama ensued. It's a bummer, and I hope AX can survive this. I mean, the anime market and industry is shaky enough as it is right now, the collapse of the countries largest convention would be another hefty blow.

Additionally his statements are hardly those one would expect from someone in a C-level position. At the least he needs to get some major help from the Marketing folks on how to speak with the press.

I'm not going to waste a lot of time on his comments regarding attendance or profits for AX. It seems that he doesn't quite understand the industry he's currently in (while it's related to his previous position, it's different enough to require him to sit back and watch it work for a bit first... something most successful business leaders would do).

BTW: the comments regarding travel are pure and utter nonsense. As a CEO you do not "assume" the perks. You know them, and they are made clear in your contract. Note how that is not what he stated. The reference to "other CEOs" was also interesting. The people who serve as the face of conventions are his peers now, not the CEOs of larger corporations. I think this also relates to his misunderstanding of the industry. To expect increases in profit in a niche market, in a downward economy is one thing, but it seems the he is using metrics based on other industries, not the one in which AX is compared to. When you use the industry metric, you see that his disappointment in the numbers is rather unfounded.

I'm not going to disagree with you regarding con drama. Lord knows that AX is famous for it with its staff. However, if you think that it's one-sided, then I suggest that you re-read the article. There's definitely more to the story here, but it's pretty obvious that the current CEO is his own worst enemy when it comes to PR.

Keonyn wrote:

While it's cool to blame the executive types and all, frankly, I'm not buying the one-sided finger pointing one bit. Let's not forget the fact that he is a big name, and successful executive who has organized and run operations far heftier than this in the past.

I agree with every point you make (especially the propensity for AX towards utter dysfunction and anarchy. My god, the 2007 meetings!) with one big exception. Big name and successful executive mean absolutely nothing. No. Thing. I have met and even worked under many many executives that are utter morons who should have never even been trusted with a driver's license, let alone a major corporation.

Why not? When a threat of legal action is taken then what he said is about all you can say. It's the very basics really; anything you say and do could be put under scrutiny or twisted by the other side. So you minimize damage, try to right the ship, and avoid direct discussion of the events and move on. I doubt it's the marketing department he's going to, but the legal department, and that would be the smart move for anyone in a legal situation in times of turmoil. I hate to say it, but that's the world we live in; sorry to break the bad news.

I don't think that's the case at all. It may very well be that it's the staffers who don't understand the industry they're in at this time. His comments about attendance didn't seem out of place at all, even regarding Bam! It's true, why would they pay such a firm when there have been no distinguishable results? I mean, why complain about his plane tickets and then support the idea of a contract with a company that isn't producing results? Either scrutinize the funds uniformly or don't, but double standards don't work in business.

Well, you don't attract and draw in a successful name without providing the benefits that go with the job. The "peers" you speak of stopped being peers when AX grew to the size it did, and this group went the direction they did. Maybe the airfare was excessive, sure, I can see that, but the sheer act of hiring someone of this level may also have been excessive to start with. As for the profit increase expectations; you're always looking for ways to increase profit and exposure, regardless of economic conditions, that's what someone in that position does. Sometimes that involves trimming away cost elements that aren't producing, which still effects profit even with the same level of intake. Removing a marketing contract that isn't producing results would be just such a move. In fact, it's more relevant in this type of economy than in a growing economy.

Two things:

2) From 2007 on, most conventions and even the anime distributors in the US have noticed a contraction of growth. AX seems to have experienced it a bit more than most, which is expected considering their growth over the past 10 years. With the economy, most corporations within the industry have been experiencing a growth rate of less than 5%. For conventions I think AX is particularly hard hit (but for conventions in CA, I believe it to be reasonable). A good chunk of that is the economy, another part is the inevitable plateau that occurs when your attendance grows by such a large amount in such a short time ...

Well I wasn't referring to the legal issue with BAM! Marketing, but to his other statements. HOWEVER, since you brought that up, Let's look at the metrics.

# of attendees at AX prior to the use of BAM! = 15,250
# of attendees at AX as of the last year of service = 44,000

A lot of people have been discussing the executive class airfare. Unfortunately it seems that most people don't fully understand.

If* AX / SPJA wants an experienced high-level executive like Lattanzio, they need to offer competitive perks similar to the ones that Lattanzio would expect if he worked at a major corporation.

The last three years has seen very little growth. Of the last six, only 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 had significant growth. It's clear they're expecting more.

Anime conventions: serious business.