El-Erian, wasn't he another wonderful Summers appointment?

What is it with Summers' gift to choose people? What kinds of litmus tests did they have to pass to be acceptable to him?
 

Perhaps we could start looking for a pattern in those appointed by Summers. How are they alike? how are they different? How do they differ from those they replaced?
 

It's important to note that the job changed during Larry's tenure. Jack Meyer was allowed near-total freedom by Rudenstine. When Larry started to interfere, and the alums started to make an issue of his compensation,
Meyer jumped ship. Then Harvard had to recruit someone who would tolerate the increased supervision. El-Erian was not originally a top tier candidate, and reportedlly only came because he was seduced by the idea of teaching at the B-School (which he negotiated for). When Rubin and Summers took over the job recruitment effort personally, I understand they were dismayed at how hard it was to attract a first-rate candidate. Lesson: if the job becomes less appealing, you can't get the same quality applicants.
 

why did it become less appealing?
 

Of course top tier candidates would not accept to have an incompetent person, with personality disorders, breathing down their neck.

Perhaps this has been happening at Harvard in a number of areas since knowledge about Larry's management style got around. It was impossible to recruit top tier candidates for critical management jobs in the university. Some top tier managers resigned.

This set in motion a system that self-perpetuates. Those so hired in turn hired others more like themselves as they would be threatened by truly competent people. The system now in motion could lead to a rapid downfall implosion of some of the units at Harvard, and eventually to the collapse of the University.

Some signs of this? an endowment not yielding as expected, problems with fundraising, declining applications, challenges attracting top faculty.

Oh Harvard, my Harvard,
how you bleed away,
while those fools who so hurt you,
in your hollowed halls still,
teach your students,
wear your emblems,
steal your pence,
and spread their poison still.
 

"Hollowed" halls, huh?
 

8:34 am
names...names...names...who of the "top" tier resigned?
 

Kim B. Clark, HBS
 

Joseph Nye announced his departure in 2003, two years into Summers' presidency.
 

Peter G. Rowe, Dean GSE. Resigned 2003
 

two deans appointed by Summers resigned after a few years on the job: Bill Kirby and Elena Lagemann
 

Robert C. Clark resigned to HLS one year after Summers took office.
 

In March 2002 Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for International Development, abruptly resigned from Harvard, reportedly over sharp disagreements regarding the handling of the Shleifer Russian affair.
 

Conrad K. Harper, a member of Harvard's top governing board, resigns over a proposed raise for university president Dr. Lawrence H. Summers. In addition, Harper also cites his dissatisfaction with Summers' leadership, including the Harvard president's controversial comments about women's aptitude for science and math, as a reason for his resignation. Harper, who is Black, was the only minority on the board at the time.
 

Lucie McNeil, a seasoned journalist who had worked for Tony Blair, and who served as director of communications for Summers, resigned after the women in science scandal.
 

Jason M. Solomon, Summers chief of staff resigned early in 2005.
 

Berman, VP for Finance, announced her decision to leave in 05--though she didn't step down until after Summers was forced out. Wonder if she made up her mind to leave much earlier?
 

resigned, forced out or better offers?
 

To poster 7:45 AM
My wife, Ann Berman, who was VP for Finance, had told Larry when she took the position that she would stay for only three years. She stayed for 3 1/2.
Her decision to step down had absolutely nothing to do with Larry leaving.
Sam Spektor
 

isaac kohlberg had nothing to do with it?
 

12:31 PM I guess you can't read; a shame? However, why don't you tell all of us what you meant (and you can continue to hide the cloak of anonymity).
Sam Spektor
 

sounds like someone hit a nerve.

you know that it's all about the secrecy at harvard, Sam. and the secret squrirrels were all a twitter about the split btw finance and otd...so whether 3 yrs or 3.5 yrs of vp service the word is that that split hastened the departure....nicht wahr?

ad majorem Dei gloriam
 

Not only is your comment about
" the word" faulty, but your Latin is as well.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam. Not really.
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Don't be afraid to sign your name; no one is going to bite you.
Nicht wahr?
Sam Spektor
 

sorry, sam it can be spelled with either the i or the j. i guess the jesuits didn't teach you that.