Alan Bowkett steps down

[lake district canary 4,875]

[quote user="morty"]I would be interested too to find out what Stephen Fry does for Norwich City.[/quote]

He shows prospective investors around Carrow Rd....

[morty 0]

[quote user="nutty nigel"]Due to questioning at AGMs I''m pretty sure we know more about what Fry does than the other non-executive directors. What does Phillips do for Norwich City?[/quote]No idea. But I would like to assume he maybe attends meetings or AGM''s at least?

[morty 0]

I don''t think its unreasonable to expect a director to bring either footballing knowledge, financial backing or business acumen to the table.

[nutty nigel 7,962]

But the board have been asked about this and say there is a point to him. I can''t remember the exact answer so you''ll need to ask Rickyyyy when he''s better. But bottom line is they can see the benefit of him. The board haven''t been asked what the other non-executive directors do. But I''m sure there will be a benefit to the club from their input too. Given all of that, and that the club has been successful in the time Fry''s been on the board, what is the problem with Stephen Fry?

[morty 0]

I already said, personally I don''t have a problem.But I can understand the question being asked, and I don''t think its an unreasonable one.

[daly 553]

Well since Mr Fry has been a director the questions regarding his non-attendance have always been quickly glossed over.

Regarding the Chairman stepping down a couple of weeks after being re-elected I could see nothing in his body language to suggest it was going to happen.

[nutty nigel 7,962]

As I said originally I fully understand the question being asked but what I don''t understand is the answer being ignored.

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,476]

Stephen Fry regularly mixes with high profile celebrities in the UK, the US and beyond. He attends many high profile events and has wealthy friends, associates and friends of friends.

New investment may come from companies already involved in football, though they have likely been approached, evaluated or have already run the rule over Norwich City.

Whilst the rich person''s plaything model has limited scope, it is not unreasonable that celebrity individuals with high disposable income might have an interest in a Premier League football club.

It might be argued that Stephen Fry - as a genuine, evangelical Norwich fan with wide tangential connections - is a decent lightning rod for such a possibility.

At zero real cost it seems a perfectly sound addition to at least cover the possibility.

Parma

[Lessingham Canary 108]

Parma, some great points there, you have hit the nail bang on in my opinion.

Cant understand the obsession as to why people are so concerned about his input at board meetings, board meetings are to discuss the day to day matters, measuring the performance of the business ( Football progress, budget controls and p&l performance) I somehow doubt Stephen Fry was recruited for any input in these area''s.

[Mr Jenkins 0]

No problem with Fry, a non exec, takes no salary but may be able to use his vast experience as an entertainer and celeb to inject a different view or experience into a debate. An asset not a liability.

Really can''t understand the concern here.

[Gunthorpe 0]

The current Norwich Board consists of 7 posts - the make up ensures DS retains overall control

 

We have to remember the Stowmarket 2 as majority shareholders can appoint however they like to the Board

 

Many on this forum do not seem io appreciate that the appointments are specifically made to ensure DS remains in over all control when it comes down to voting

 

DS needs 4 votes to have a majority

The 4 posts which she controls are

Her own & hubby

Stephen Fry (personal friend of Delia - attends no meetings but has given her his Proxy vote), invited on to the Board by Delia for this sole reason

The 4th vote she controls is Mr Phillips - he knows as much about football as most of the posters on this forum (not a lot) but he is the CEO of Delia Ltd (I wonder what that does)

We then have David Mc who of course is a paid employee and does as he is told (dont we all)

The other 2 (Foulger & Bowkett) were brought into to add experience & make up the numbers but in reality they have no power as the Board will always vote the way Delia wants

 

Why did Bowkett leave ? Sorted out the finances and as he knows he has no real power - cant blame him for walking

 

For everyone on this thread to start suggesting that Delia will add 3 new faces, which would mean that she loses control of the Board seems beyond belief given the way she manipulates decisions at the club to date

But lets see - personaly cannot see a change in policy from the iron fist approached, but then pigs might fly

 

 

[PurpleCanary 6,457]

[quote user="Gunthorpe"]

Many on this forum do not seem io appreciate that the appointments are specifically made to ensure DS remains in over all control when it comes down to voting

 

 

 

[/quote]That can''t be true, surely? I thought the whole point of owning a company was to appoint directors who would vote you down every time. As far as I know that is what the owners of every other PLC in the United Kingdom do. But you have to admit, if you''re right, and Smith and Jones have come up with some cunning plan to exert control that no-one in British business had ever thought of before, then that is pretty damned clever of them.

[ricardo 8,098]

[quote user="nutty nigel"]But the board have been asked about this and say there is a point to him. I can''t remember the exact answer so you''ll need to ask Rickyyyy when he''s better. But bottom line is they can see the benefit of him. The board haven''t been asked what the other non-executive directors do. But I''m sure there will be a benefit to the club from their input too. Given all of that, and that the club has been successful in the time Fry''s been on the board, what is the problem with Stephen Fry?[/quote]Looking back at my notes when the question was first asked this is what I reported.The inevitable question on "what does Stephen Fry do" was first in the

list and we were told about his contribution re his contacts and his

celebrity status in the entertainment business and his 8 million twitter

followers which gave us tremendous reach in several commercial aspects

re kit sales and videos etc. Stephen was re-elected as was McNally,

albeit with one or two nay sayers.We were also told that to buy that kind of media exposure would cost millions.

[nutty nigel 7,962]

Trying to reconcile Delias appointment of Fry with her supposed obsession with appointing Catholics. It''s a strange old world when the current conspiracy won''t fit with a previous one. Now will Sister Wendy be the new director?

[Prince of Darkness 0]

Think is Ricardo he rarely tweets about the club!

[Prince of Darkness 0]

Just checked once in 2 months and that was to flog his q and a session.

Really do struggle to see the value he offers

[Gunthorpe 0]

PurpleCanary wrote the following post at 10/12/2015 1:09 PM:

Gunthorpe wrote:

Many on this forum do not seem io appreciate that the appointments are specifically made to ensure DS remains in over all control when it comes down to voting

That can''t be true, surely? I thought the whole point of owning a company was to appoint directors who would vote you down every time. As far as I know that is what the owners of every other PLC in the United Kingdom do.

But you have to admit, if you''re right, and Smith and Jones have come up with some cunning plan to exert control that no-one in British business had ever thought of before, then that is pretty damned clever of them.


Purple - I like it at last

You are right the Stowmarket 2 are doing what every majority shareholder does in the country - appoint a Board which gives them control

Why do so very few people appreciate this ?????????????????????????

I doubt if anything will change until they move on - when ever that is

[ricardo 8,098]

[quote user="Gunthorpe"]

You are right the Stowmarket 2 are doing what every majority shareholder does in the country - appoint a Board which gives them control

Why do so very few people appreciate this ?????????????????????????

I doubt if anything will change until they move on - when ever that is

[/quote]Why should they move on just because you don''t like it?It''s their dolls house if you don''t like it buy one of your own.

[morty 0]

I am not interested in any voting or friends network conspiracy theories. But I have yet to hear of any tangible proof of anything Stephen Fry has brought to Norwich City.

I follow him on Twitter, and have seen him mention Norwich City literally once in a blue moon.

And I have never met anyone from the wider world of football who even knows he is on our board.

Like I said, I don''t have a massive issue with him doing whatever he does, as he does it unpaid. But now the question has been asked I am curious.

[Grant Holts Moustache 113]

I don''t think he needs to tweet a lot about us for it to have a positive impact. As someone mentioned he tweeted his q & a session. Whilst this won''t make a fortune it will no doubt sell out and make money for the academy. If he does this when we launch a new kit he gives us incredible marketing reach to people the club may never be able to connect without spending a lot of money.

I''ve also seen plenty of non football articles over the years where his directorship is mentioned and he is asked about the club. These are all small things but long term the club has to continue to grow it''s fan base and being associated with someone so widely respected and of such status can only contribute towards a positive image of Norwich City. All we have to do for this is give him a title essentially, it doesn''t cost the club anything. Sounds pretty good business sense.

[Essex_Canary 6]

I do love the conspiracy theories on here.Anyone who knows anything about Alan Bowkett and what he does will understand why there is no conspiracy in his standing down. One look through his CV and you see what his specialisms are in business. He is a business turnaround specialist, he has built his career on working for failing companies, sorting them out and then moving on to the next challenge. Five or six years is about fair, he achieved the impossible in getting the banks to agree to allow the club to waive the repayments on the loans they had defaulted on in 2009 to buy some breathing space while the finances were restructured. Yes Premier League money allowed us to be debt free quickly, but we wouldnt have had the chance of the double promotion if the Bowkett hadn''t worked his magic in League One.His job here is done, and he certainly wouldnt have been short of offers elsewhere, within football or more likely not. He should be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame because while McNally and Lambert rightfully deserve their praise, Bowkett''s work behind the scenes allowed it to happen.http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/409617/UK-PROFILE---ALAN-BOWKETT/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/profile-emperors-new-shoes-alan-bowkett-didnt-make-clarks-fit-but-that-wont-sink-a-grand-design-says-2321785.html

[nutty nigel 7,962]

Round and round in circles Morty. Rickyyyy has posted the reasons from the board and their value of him. You''re not going to get any tangible proof because any business he may have brought us would not be done publicly. Now can you give me some tangible proof of what Phillips brings to the table. I would suggest there is less because I''ve never heard the question asked at any meeting or agm. So while we know the point of Fry and his value to the rest of the board we certainly don''t know as much about Phillips. Why not?

[westcoastcanary 173]

[Y]  Essex Canary 

[PurpleCanary 6,457]

[quote user="Gunthorpe"]

PurpleCanary wrote the following post at 10/12/2015 1:09 PM:

Gunthorpe wrote:

Many on this forum do not seem io appreciate that the appointments are specifically made to ensure DS remains in over all control when it comes down to voting

That can''t be true, surely? I thought the whole point of owning a company was to appoint directors who would vote you down every time. As far as I know that is what the owners of every other PLC in the United Kingdom do. But you have to admit, if you''re right, and Smith and Jones have come up with some cunning plan to exert control that no-one in British business had ever thought of before, then that is pretty damned clever of them.

Purple - I like it at last

You are right the Stowmarket 2 are doing what every majority shareholder does in the country - appoint a Board which gives them control

Why do so very few people appreciate this ?????????????????????????

I doubt if anything will change until they move on - when ever that is

[/quote]I don''t know that they don''t. Perhaps this is just a misconception in your head.As to Fry it seems strange that his credentials to be a director of a company in the entertaiment business are queried when he has made a very successful and profitable career in that same general line of work. On the face ot it that more qualifies him than Foulger''s expertise in selling chickens or Phillips'' in peddling newspapers.

[morty 0]

Does Phillips at least go to board meetings? Is he a successful businessman who brings financial acumen?

[Indy 3,492]

Pretty much spot on Essex, my better half is an FD for a big local firm who at the time gained some info of the events unfolding back then.

We owe a heck of a lot to Mr Bowkett, possibly more than Delia & MWJ.

The timing is the only suspect to conspiracy as he could have not stood for re-election two weeks ago had he had something else lined up.

[Indy 3,492]

I suppose Fry is just a big name to add to our fine Club, he brings a link to others who possibly didn''t know much about us in other countries such as the US, where Fry has done a lot of work.

I like having Fry onboard he''s a top guy with flaws which is admirable for me.

[nutty nigel 7,962]

I''ve never heard it asked Morty. No ones been bothered enough about phillips to ask. Thats my point.

The executive directors have told us the point of Fry. They''ve told us what they get from him and how much they value it. Isn''t that what you wanted to know?

[PurpleCanary 6,457]

[quote user="morty"]Does Phillips at least go to board meetings? Is he a successful businessman who brings financial acumen?[/quote]Are you saying Fry does not attend board meetings? That may be the case and it would be understandable if it were so, since he works for a living, frequently in the evenings and often abroad. Even so he can contribute in advance or by way of video conferencing.But as far as I am aware the posters who have claimed he doesn''t attend (either physically on in cyberspace) have, when pressed for details, gone silent. Myself I don''t think frequent attendance either way is that big a deal, given the ease of communications nowadays, but I like to see facts rather than myths.As for other directors bringing financial acumen, we have had plenty of that, from McNally, Bowkett and the finance chief, plus the wisdom of long-standing directors such as Smith and Jones and Foulger. We hardly need another such.I do not do social media but I can see that Fry''s expertise and following there, plus his contacts among the rich and famous, might well give us an edge other directiors from more traditional backgrounds simply cannot provide.

[morty 0]

I was asking the question Purple, not trying to make a point. I don''t know anything about Philips.