How idiotic must Ken Graffeo feel now....

[EvolutionCherry]

With the knowledge that he's costing Universal a lot of cash now that a lot of HD-DVD supporters like Toshiba are jumping ship.

[blaze_macleod]

I reckon he will step down and be replaced.

[Sylin]

He should be renamed Ken GAFFEo. His single biggest mistake was regurgitating all the tripe from the HD DVD camp like he was feeding the masses some sort of life-giving manna. Universal's single biggest mistake was not going neutral instead of blinding serving the Red side.

Let him hang.

[The Don]

he was just doing what he was paid to do....he didn't cost them anything more than what they were probably going to do anyways..

[JTK]

Originally Posted by The Don

he was just doing what he was paid to do....he didn't cost them anything more than what they were probably going to do anyways..

Watch him emerge later this week or next week after Toshiba pulls the plug with a big smile on his face about how enthusiastic Universal is about BD, etc. etc.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by JTK

Watch him emerge later this week or next week after Toshiba pulls the plug with a big smile on his face about how enthusiastic Universal is about BD, etc. etc.

maybe not. it's likely pink slip already being written and waiting for him in his office tomorrow

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

maybe not. it's likely pink slip already being written and waiting for him in his office tomorrow

It SHOULD be, but it probably won't. He might just get "re-assigned" to a different division. I'm sure the HD-DVD PG will be dissolved sooner or later, or disappear into the ether. But I think both Graffeo and that PR lady (Sally something-or-the-other) should take a loooooong vacation and let the industry forget about their FUD before trying to apply for a new job somewhere.

Sorry, but I just really dislike Graffeo. He went above and beyond just doing what he was paid for. He went out of his way to spread blatant lies and spin stories that didn't exist, as opposed to maintaining the status quo like he could have honorably done. Then he also slandered Blu-ray with false accusations. Just LOOK at the guy... he looks like a con man.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by JTK

Watch him emerge later this week or next week after Toshiba pulls the plug with a big smile on his face about how enthusiastic Universal is about BD, etc. etc.

yuup...his job is to spin that wheel...

[Nick Graham]

Curse Insiders who PM me juicy info that I cannot share without breaking their confidence! Trust me when I say that there is a reason a couple of our Insiders here on Blu-Ray.com have been quick to defend Mr. Graffeo in the past.

[KenThompson]

Plain and simple he should be fired. Remember people who buy game consoles don't buy movies. So why is it that with dud having a 3 to 1 advantage in standalones that we outsell by more than 2 to 1. Must be the tooth fairy buying all those bd's.

[JohnGalt]

I have no inside info but let me speculate a bit:

KG is probably not in a position to personally overturn decisions that come down from on high, he answers to those above him. Given NBC / Universal's unholy / unhealthy little brother relationship to Microsoft and given Microsoft's strong desire to keep HD-DVD alive long enough to kill both next-gen optical formats it's entirely likely that KG was handed his marching orders and had no choice but to comply or step aside. In that light his taking leadership of the HD-DVD promotions group looks a lot like someone who was dealt a weak hand and forced to play it trying to make the best of an obviously losing situation. Given the plethora of hints dropped in the insider's threads here I'd wager that's not extremely far from the truth.

[MrBogey]

Ken's fine. He just got a new set of orders. First he has to get bag and hold tight...

[Winn]

I have a feeling Ken looks at his paychecks and feels pretty darn good. For the money he is making, I would start hyping a return to VHS.

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by Nick Graham

Curse Insiders who PM me juicy info that I cannot share without breaking their confidence! Trust me when I say that there is a reason a couple of our Insiders here on Blu-Ray.com have been quick to defend Mr. Graffeo in the past.

I have seen no such "quick" defense of Graffeo from those in the Blu camp... just more people saying, "he's only doing his job," which is a circular argument.

If someone believes that Kenny has a secret Blu-ray tattoo and that he's not the loyalist red ant he proudly makes himself out to be, well, I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

People who say, "Oh, he's just doing what Universal tells him," obviously have no idea how the corporate structure works. His job is to tell THEM what Universal needs to do regarding HDM. That's the whole reason why companies hire executives--to lead those particular aspects of the company with their wisdom and experience. They're not there to follow policy--they're there to MAKE IT. And so far he's done a lousy job at it, because he drank the HD DVD kool aid and never for once considered the harm it would do to not at least be neutral.

That said, he's been very quiet since CES, so hopefully he's doing some soul-searching. The most spectacular thing he could do would be to resign from the HD DVD PG...

[The Don]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

I have seen no such "quick" defense of Graffeo from those in the Blu camp... just more people saying, "he's only doing his job," which is a circular argument.

If someone believes that Kenny has a secret Blu-ray tattoo and that he's not the loyalist red ant he proudly makes himself out to be, well, I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

People who say, "Oh, he's just doing what Universal tells him," obviously have no idea how the corporate structure works. His job is to tell THEM what Universal needs to do regarding HDM. That's the whole reason why companies hire executives--to lead those particular aspects of the company with their wisdom and experience. They're not there to follow policy--they're there to MAKE IT. And so far he's done a lousy job at it, because he drank the HD DVD kool aid and never for once considered the harm it would do to not at least be neutral.

That said, he's been very quiet since CES, so hopefully he's doing some soul-searching. The most spectacular thing he could do would be to resign from the HD DVD PG...

Penton-Man for one has defended him...

[Maximus]

I've defended Ken before and I'll defend him now.

He is a very reasonable guy, and having met him, he doesn't drink red koolaid. He along with his boss have played their part in the recent downfall of HD DVD at Toshiba and subsequent actions by the press.

Just don't be too quick to judge, like Winn pointed out, if you guys were on half the money he is you'd all be screaming out about HD VMD if that is what it entailed...

[badboi]

Start with a clean slate with this guy and see what his actions are after Toshiba throws in the towel officially. I'm all for not passing any judgement until then. Hopefully he's not as big a douchebag as we all think.

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

His job is to tell THEM what Universal needs to do regarding HDM. That's the whole reason why companies hire executives--to lead those particular aspects of the company with their wisdom and experience. They're not there to follow policy--they're there to MAKE IT.

In theory yes. In the real world however that's not always the case, particularly where small divisions aren't allowed to set policy that might imperil strategic alliances that run to many divisions. Been there, seen that.

[STI Jaguar]

What will he say? What will he do?

This is the person I am waiting to hear from the most.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by STI Jaguar

What will he say? What will he do?

This is the person I am waiting to hear from the most.

You mean a suicide watch or something?