JBL axes Greg Timbers after 43 years

[Mr Peabody]

Greg Timbers pretty much was JBL. He stated on another forum his dismissal was sudden and unexpected, he only had like 90 seconds and was escorted out. He had a 43 year run with JBL, a division of Harman. GREG TIMBERS (http://www.audioheritage.org/html/people/timbers.htm)

[JohnMichael]

As an owner of JBL Studio 530's I think they made a mistake. What a talent.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I wonder if he got caught doing something unethical, to be escorted out of the building like that. We've had that happen at places I've worked at. The company hires this outfit to send in two people that come in with someone from management and they sort of oversee as you gather your personal items. They don't let you talk to anybody or use the computer. Then these guys take you somewhere for lunch and explain what is going on and sometimes help you get a resume together.

[Feanor]

I wonder if he got caught doing something unethical, to be escorted out of the building like that. We've had that happen at places I've worked at. The company hires this outfit to send in two people that come in with someone from management and they sort of oversee as you gather your personal items. They don't let you talk to anybody or use the computer. Then these guys take you somewhere for lunch and explain what is going on and sometimes help you get a resume together.

This is normal practice, especially in the case of data processing staff.

It isn't necessarily or even usual due to malfeasance by the the firee. A change of higher up staff or a change of policy will do it.

Many years ago it happened with several senior VPs at a company I worked for. They did nothing wrong except to object to the policies of the new Chairman & CEO, or were simply considered redundant.

[Mr Peabody]

It's not unusual for Harman to do interesting personnel changes. Remember when they took over Levinson how they came in and fired the entire engineering team. Of course, in this day and age 43 years and a company is probably looking to get rid of you for someone a fraction of your salary.

If I was harman I think I'd look to fire the JBL marketing people, if they took the Studio and LS mainstream they could have been a force to be dealt with. They seemed to be happy with the selling the pro and what little install market there is, and keeping budget products in Best Buy. The Studio like JM has was short lived unfortunately, I think they just put that product out to move it along but the series was popular which should have given someone in JBL a clue. As nice as the JBL horns sound and at a reasonable price brands like Klipsch would have had a difficult time competing.

[bfalls]

There's no loyalty anymore, it's all about the bottom line. I've been through several RIFs and it seems during these the ones making the decisions have no idea who they're firing or how well they do their jobs. They've gone to outside help to make something very personal to the employee, impersonal to ease the process.