When you think Lowe's greatness you naturally remember Larry Stone. When he hung up his red vest Lowe's became a Wall Street chip. Niblock and Ellison just play to the stock, jeez they can't even change a light bulb. Larry was tough, he loved sparring with associates and pushing them to a higher level of service to customers. And he always thanked you with a real smile, as if you had just
given him something special.
Carol Tome is about to leave Home Depot. Marvin Ellison couldn't have run a lemonade stand if Carol
had not been aboard. She should have been the CEO but Depot was not ready for a woman in a male dominated business. Marvin was a bag man. He cut and destroyed culture and then tried to be a great guy. He was finally swept aside, but had to find another hatchet position. He did but the approach was the same. Sensing failure he ran to his hedge fund masters yet again. Now Lowe's gets the full throttle tear down.
Remember Tome stopped that nonsense at Depot and they pulled out of the decline. Lowe's has no Carol Tome. This is the difference in leadership. Lowe's has had great leaders but nothing for a decade, we have no strong leader. Maybe Marvin feels Tome retiring will swing the advantage to him. Unfortunately he has no one. He can't lead. There nothing left to cut. RIP Lowe's