Fired for unspecified non-financial reasons

https://nypost.com/2020/01/16/...mysteriously-ousted/

Smith & Wesson CEO James Debney mysteriously ousted
By Noah ManskarJanuary 16, 2020 | 9:24am

The parent company of gunmaker Smith & Wesson has ousted its CEO because he allegedly broke an unspecified corporate rule.

Chief executive James Debney left his post at American Outdoor Brands Corporation after its board of directors found he “engaged in conduct inconsistent with a non-financial company policy,” the company said in a Wednesday news release.

The firm did not offer further details about Debney’s alleged misconduct but said he has been replaced by co-CEOs Mark Smith and Brian Murphy.

“We appreciate James’ contributions toward the growth and development of our company and its infrastructure,” American Outdoor Brands chairman Barry Monheit said in a statement released after the company’s stock closed up 1.2 percent Wednesday at $9.58.

The shakeup came less than a week before the SHOT Show, a major gun industry event set to start Tuesday in Las Vegas. Smith & Wesson is listed as an exhibitor at the show, along with other American Outdoor Brands names such as Caldwell, Lockdown and Crimson Trace.

Debney had been president and CEO of American Outdoor Brands, previously known as Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, since 2011. He was expected to lead the firm following its planned spinoff of the Smith & Wesson gun business, which was announced in November.

Smith will now become president and CEO of the firearms company, Smith & Wesson Brands, once the spinoff is complete, and Murphy will become president and CEO of American Outdoor Brands, the company said.

He probably suggested taking the idiotic locks off their revolvers.

Heresy, of course

Good riddance. Maybe they will hire a gun guy to replace him. And make handguns worth owning again. Regards 18DAI

He was probably sleeping with one of his subordinates or making unwelcome advances.

The parent company, American Outdoor Brands, is spinning S&W out as an independent company. I guess the don't want to be a gun company anymore. This guy was supposed to stay on as CEO of the parent company after the spin off.

While being independent might be good for S&W. I've seen these types of spin offs where the parent company saddles the spun off company with huge debt loads and keeps the cash.

It is just the pistols that are EZ at S&W...

He should have known better.

Maybe he proposed redirecting the Board's bonuses and stock options into moving the company and personnel from Massachusetts to Missouri in a bid to bring it back from its death spiral.

Nah.

He probably wanted priority use of the Board's new Golfstream VIII ER.

my curiosity is piqued

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quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:
He was probably sleeping with one of his subordinates or making unwelcome advances.

Since we're guessing, I'm gonna go with this one.

He must of said to his secretary "get me some coffee sweetie".

He bought a Glock?

quote:

Originally posted by rat2306:
He bought a Glock?

He is a Brit immigrant, with little knowledge of firearms, but an expert in plastic liners (garbage bags) formerly at Presto (Alcoa).

His expertise in consumer products would apply to the world of guns.

A top NRA donor and regular donations to PAC's opposing gun control.

Sales have dropped - was there an expected surge in sales? - stock is at $10.
Bound to be spun off to a private buyer?

So what will he do now? Perhaps focus on his teen daughter, an nationally ranked equestrian.

The above is my opinion and speculation.

But it would be good to know the true of nature of the supposed 'unspecified corporate rule'.

I have seen a couple piece of shit revolvers that came out of their performance shop recently. I carried Smith and Wesson revolvers and pistol for duty for many years back when they made a finely crafted superb handgun. It makes me sad to see what has happened to their quality control. Maybe a gun guy can change that around but they need some gunsmiths up there.

quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:
He was probably sleeping with one of his subordinates or making unwelcome advances.

I was going to suggest the chairman-of-the-board's daughter, but yeah.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
He probably suggested taking the idiotic locks off their revolvers.

Probably tried to put his pistol into the wrong holster!

quote:

Originally posted by cjevans:

So what will he do now? Perhaps focus on his teen daughter, an nationally ranked equestrian.

His daughter is a horse? I'm sure that is a typo, ha.


I sure hope they do get rid of the lock. I might actually consider them again. S&W's were my true gun passion.

No telling what it was, but office romance or sexual impropriety isn't a bad guess. To the extent any guess is even close.

The corporation isn't known for being great to its employees. In fact, I can think of at least one guy who was the victim of some seriously inhuman fuckery.