Nortel's Secret Weapon?
I haven't seen the story yet but apparently Canadian Business magazine has a cover story on how Nortel CEO Bill Owens is under-rated and playing a key role in reviving the embattled telecom equipment maker's fortunes. My initial reaction is: what? From the analysts I have spoken with Owens comes across as a solid, well-intentioned person but there is nothing about him having a strong grasp on the technology or an abilty to articulate Nortel's vision. Owens has given Nortel some much-needed stability at a time when its accounting scandal was only getting worse. If Canadian Business is handing out marks for taking one for the team, Owens scores high. But I'm not sure how the magazine can rank him high on other criteria. In other Nortel news, its PR spokesman Tina Warren is leaving after five years for a job in the healthcare industry. No doubt, her tenure at Nortel has provided a wealth of experience in crisis management.
