When you’re a public figure, you are always, always “on stage”
In late August, Desmond Hague, CEO of Centerplate, a catering company that supplies food and beverages to venues housing all four major professional sports leagues in both the U.S. and Canada, was caught on elevator surveilance video kicking and yanking the leash of a small dog.
The video quickly went viral, creating intense backlash against both Hague and Centerplate from both animal rights groups and the general public. Centerplate’s initial crisis management efforts included both corporate and personal apologies, promising a donation of $100,000 from Hague and 1,000 hours of community service working for animal welfare, as well as anger management counseling, but the critics were not sated. After several days of continued agitation, Centerplate announced Hague’s “resignation” with a statement that read, in part:
Centerplate’s board of directors announced today that Chris Verros has been appointed to the role of acting president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, following the resignation of Desmond Hague from the company. The decision comes as a result of Hague’s personal misconduct involving the mistreatment of an animal in his care.
“We want to reiterate that we do not condone nor would we ever overlook the abuse of animals,” said Joe O’Donnell, chairman of the board of directors for Centerplate. “Following an extended review of the incident involving Mr. Hague, I’d like to apologize for the distress that this situation has caused to so many; but also thank our employees, clients and guests who expressed their feelings about this incident. Their voices helped us to frame our deliberations during this very unusual and unfortunate set of circumstances.”
If there’s one lesson to take from this incident, it’s that there is no such thing as “behind closed doors” anymore. Whether you’re in a boardroom, out of the country, riding an elevator, or even in the privacy of your own home, the possibility of your bad behavior being recorded and broadcast to the world is a very real one.
The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com