Ad exec
downsizes
himself
Starr Seigle Communications Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack Bates will assume a new title Aug. 1. He just doesn't know what it is yet.
Bates does know what else he'll be doing in the near future but is keeping that close to the vest. He will step down from his leadership position but will maintain his office, a seat on the company's board and some client work, much like predecessor Jack Seigle did before he eventually retired in 1999.
"He was talking about it late last year," said Jim Boersema, president of StarrPR, the public relations division of Starr Seigle.
When Hawaiian Airlines declared bankruptcy in March, owing the company more than $500,000, Bates' plans were put on hold.
"The bankruptcy threw us a terrible loop, but there's nobody at Hawaiian today that is responsible for that. They really are a wonderful group of people and we're thrilled to have them as a client," Bates said. "They've done everything in their power, those people that are there today, to help see us through this and help us look forward to going forward with them."
He's also grateful to other companies -- including clients, vendors, and media outlets -- that have hung in there while the company sorts through the Hawaiian bankruptcy fallout.
It hasn't lost any clients, according to Boersema.
However, since the end of March Starr Seigle has "probably let go of about 10 people," he said. One of the more painful departures, according to an insider, was that of Sally White, longtime assistant to Bates and previously, to Seigle.
They are using the "r" word -- restructuring -- but Boersema believes the company has hit its fighting weight.
"I think we've taken the appropriate actions to ensure our viability to continue to serve our customers," Boersema said. "Internally we're getting to a point where we're going to emerge from this thing just fine."
Boersema; StarrTech Interactive President Mary Fastenau; Barbara Ankerschmidt, president of QMark Research & Polling; and Starr Seigle President David Koch, who also heads the advertising division, will name Bates' replacement, Boersema said.
The airline's filing has "absolutely nothing to do with (my decision) at all," said Bates.
"I think the hard realization is, with the bankruptcy and our own tough financial times, we needed to look at how the company operates. Combined with 10 years of recession, we continued to see a decline in (advertising) budgets," he said. "So when we looked at the changes we've made in terms of employment, I really wouldn't attribute that much to the bankruptcy. I think what the bankruptcy forced us to do was take a look at the way we operate, perhaps sooner than we otherwise would have."
Personally, Bates has also done a bit of a review.
"At 63 you begin to look at things differently," he said. His 19-year-old son Chris is heading to college in Colorado next month. His parents are ailing.
He's also got something up his sleeve.
"I'm going to pursue business things I've wanted to pursue." said Bates. "I look forward to that being successful and being a big client of Starr Seigle," he said, his smile audible.
