The Crisis at Tyco - A Director's Perspective
Posted: 29 Jan 2012
Date Written: June 2, 2011
Abstract
In 2002, Wendy Lane had been a member of the board of directors at Tyco International a little more than a year when the company's CEO Dennis Kozlowski and other top executives were accused of fraud, which ultimately led to resignations, imprisonments, lawsuits, and SEC filings. In a short period of time Tyco lost 2/3rds of its market value. Many outside the company questioned the board's leadership and diligence. Lane, who had a successful career in investment banking before becoming a professional director, was caught in the firestorm. The case discusses the events that led to the crisis, her reflections on managing the crisis both personally and professionally, the reputational risk she encountered, and the lessons she learned as a director.
Learning Objective: The case allows members of boards of directors and audit committees to consider their role in providing oversight and the challenges they face while doing so. Using the case of an audit committee director at Tyco, the case discusses the reputational consequences and other personal and professional costs directors can experience when their companies fail.
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