Bad Moguls -The Year That Was (Part II)

Before I add to my list of 2007's Bad Moguls, I just want to reflect momentarily on Rolandas Milinavicius. He's the business executive that killed two of his employees after they pestered him for a raise.

Actually, they were his only employees. So in one fell swoop, this man eliminated his entire staff ... permanently!

Right now, Milinavicius takes the cake as the Worst Mogul of 2007. Keeping in mind that he is a Mini-Mogul, an owner and chief executive of one car dealership, his actions were so despicable that no one on my list even comes close to him.

One lesson to learn here for all of us Mogul lackeys, is to make sure your Mogul is not under severe stress, doesn't look suicidal and doesn't appear to be a homicidal maniac before requesting that pay raise!

Now here are two more for the list.

Who: Oscar Wyatt

Industry: Oil

Company: Coastal Corporation (Acquired by El Paso Corporation around 2001)

Title: CEO

Offense: Pled guilty to paying kickbacks to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq's as part of its Oil-for-food program

Observation: This scandal took place around the 2000 timeframe. Mr. Wyatt is currently a very mature 83 years old or there-abouts. So back in 2000, he was a somewhat less mature 75 business executive. Well, there's nothing more pathetic than a greedy bastard ... except for a Damned Old Greedy Bastard!

Who: Klaus Volkert, the Works Council Chief; Klaus-Joachim Gebauer, an HR Executive

Industry: Auto

Company: Volkswagen (Germany)

Titles: Works Council Chief; HR Executive

Alleged Offenses: Bilking Volkswagen out of lots of money for use in a sordid tale of sex, prostitutes, mistresses and performance enhancement drugs.

Comment/Observation: Both Volkert and Gebauer apparently do not deny the tales of sex and mistresses. Rather, they claim that it was a well-established reward system. They claim to be the beneficiaries of a company-run system of rewarding union leaders with prostitutes, money and gifts for mistresses, free Viagra ... and oh yea, a little something for the wives too! You've got to keep the wives happy.

With all of that sex going on (allegedly), I guess Viagra really would be a necessity!

In Part III, I'll add another business executive or two to the list. I just can't resist.

And don't forget, let me know the names you think should be on the 2007 Bad Mogul list!