Brands Up This Week

P & G (out with the current, in with the new, improved old): Give them credit for ultimately making the right decision with the right leader now for the job.

Tim Cook: Cool, calm and collected. (Some readers will understand and pardon the pun).

Football Year-End Summary: The football season has largely ended in Europe with the UEFA Champions League final in London at Wembley last Saturday with an all-German tie between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. In 2012, Bayern lost on penalties to Chelsea at home. Wembley Stadium is owned by the FA and is celebrating its 150th anniversary.  The FA is the world’s oldest football organization.

–       Champions League:

  • Bayern Munich as winner
  • Borussia Dortmund for a well-played exciting Finals tie

–      EPL:

  • Manchester United, league winners with the retirement of their iconic manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. ManU shows that it can win consistently and have a class manager, organization and team.
  • Rafael Benitez and the Chelsea players – NOT management (see below). Rafa, a former Liverpool manager and thorn in Chelsea’s side, inherited the team after the abrupt dismissal of Roberto di Matteo in November 2012. Not only were Blues fans upset about di Matteo’s sacking (as he won the Champions League last year), but with the choice of an arch competitor. He immediately was on the receiving end of much verbal abuse at Stamford Bridge, as many fans could not accept his past. In the end, he prevailed with a 3rd place EPL finish and the Europa trophy meaning Chelsea were joint holders of both the Champions League and Europa Cup – for a week anyway.
  • Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.  In December, the Gunners sat in 10th place and in March 7 points behind Tottenham.  They demonstrated grit; determination and focus to finish 4th meaning Champions League play next year and now every year under Arense’s hand since he joined in 1996.

 

Brands Down This Week

P & G Board (out with the current, in with the old).

US Congress and notably Sen Levin (D-M): First a question for the Senator: Do you purposely overpay your taxes?  Now advice: If there’s a problem fix it as that’s YOUR job.  Perhaps the US Congress should consider tax reform that makes the US as attractive to corporations as Ireland.

Nikkei volatility: get used to it.

Football Year-End Summary

–       EPL:

  • Manchester City: What have you done for me lately?
  • Chelsea: Pipped by Manchester City for worst management. (It’s a good thing they have a class team that they’ve somehow chosen not to split).