Clearing The Way To Be MU's Next President?

[Tugg Speedman]

Jeff Joerres lives in Milwaukee, is a 1983 MU B-School grad, VERY involved with MU (BoT) and HIGHLY respected in the Milwaukee business community (heck, highly respected in any business community anywhere in the world).

I thought he would be an outstanding choice as the next President.  Now, after 15 years of running Manpower, he "suddenly" has some extra time on his hands.

He has the perfect skill set, fund raising prowess, ability to run a large organization and quiet political skills to make the BoT's "vision" happen.  The problem is he does not have a "terminal degree" (i.e., PHd or JD).  If he would take the job, could MU waive this requirement?  Do you see this as problematic?


If you want to follow him on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManpowerGroupJJ
He is one of the country's experts on employment and job trends, and frequently tweets about this.


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US: Prising succeeds Joerres as ManpowerGroup CEO

http://www.recruiter.co.uk/news/2014/02/us-prising-succeeds-joerres-as-manpowergroup-ceo/

International staffing giant ManpowerGroup has announced the election of Jonas Prising as its new chief executive officer.

Prising succeeds current CEO Jeffrey Joerres, who will take up the role of executive chairman when Prising takes over the top job on 1 May.

Prising, who is currently ManpowerGroup president and executive vice president for the Americas and Southern Europe, also becomes a member of ManpowerGroup's main board.

Joerres became ManpowerGroup's CEO in 1999 and was nominated to become chairman of the board in 2001. During his tenure ManpowerGroup grew from an $8bn (£4.87bn) temporary staffing company, operating in 50 countries with one brand, to a $20bn plus global provider of workforce solutions operating in 80 countries under three brands – Manpower, Experis and Right Management.

During his 15 years at ManpowerGroup, Prising has held a number of senior executive roles, including head of its European sales organisation, helping to build ManpowerGroup's business in Italy, as well as leading its global Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions businesses.

Ed Zore, lead director of ManpowerGroup's board of directors, says: "The board appreciates Jeff's leadership in developing executive talent and managing a rigorous succession planning process. After careful consideration, the board strongly endorses and is confident that Prising is the right CEO to move the organisation forward and we are pleased to see ManpowerGroup continue its legacy of internal succession."

As executive chairman, Joerres will remain actively involved in the business with particular focus on clients and external relationships.

ManpowerGroup's Joerres: 'Don't worry, I won't be clipping coupons anytime soon'

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2014/02/12/joerres-dont-worry-i-wont-be.html?ana=twt&page=all

For 54-year-old Jeff Joerres, the current CEO of ManpowerGroup, the decision to step down as CEO required four years of careful thought as to whom would take over the company.

Jonas Prising will replace Joerres as the CEO of the company effective May 1. But Joerres, who will become the executive chairman, said that he would still take an active role in the company.

"Don't worry, I won't be clipping coupons anytime soon," Joerres said.

For the past 15 years, Joerres has served as the CEO of ManpowerGroup. The third CEO in 65 years, his decision to step down as CEO was one born out of thought, strategy and purpose.

"I'm a true believer that my role in the company at this point in time is being the steward of the brand," he said. "It's been a great run."

Joerres came to the board four years ago and they mapped out criteria they could use to judge how ready his successor would be to take over the company.

"We've had a lot of people leaving the company over the years to become CEOs of other companies," Joerres said. "And I came to the board four years ago in a very process oriented way and asked them to think of three major criteria to determine the next successor of this company to determine who is ready, truly ready."

In Joerres' eyes, Prising fit the bill. He is talented. He's delivered results and demonstrated the right behaviors the company values, including building communities and managing those communities in different roles.

Prising has led several of ManpowerGroup's businesses of the past 15 years. He began his tenure with Manpower as the head of its European sales organization and then built its business in Italy, which now brings in $1 billion in revenue. He also served as the president and executive vice president of the Americas and southern Europe, and led the Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions businesses.

Joerres also needed to consider the timing of leaving the company. If he waited to retire in five years, his executive leadership team -- largely made up of people who are about the same age as he -- would have resulted in movement among this team and would be appointing people that would have potentially outstayed him. By appointing Prising to the job now, it gives Prising the opportunity to shape his own leadership team.

The upswing in the economy also played a key role in making the decision, Joerres said.

"We've gone through an extended period of time of having a better economy," Joerres said. "I wanted Jonas to reap benefits of that."

Joerres will take on the role of executive chairman of the company, where he'll continue working – without getting in the way, of course – to foster the company's key client relationships and talking to the media.

"I'll be continuing my work with the Word Economic Forum, the European Union and Committee for Economic Development, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on education," he said.

[GGGG]

Jeff Joerres lives in Milwaukee, is a 1983 MU B-School grad, VERY involved with MU (BoT) and HIGHLY respected in the Milwaukee business community (heck, highly respected in any business community anywhere in the world).

I thought he would be an outstanding choice as the next President.  Now, after 15 years of running Manpower, he "suddenly" has some extra time on his hands.

He has the perfect skill set, fund raising prowess, ability to run a large organization and quiet political skills to make the BoT's "vision" happen.  The problem is he does not have a "terminal degree" (i.e., PHd or JD).  If he would take the job, could MU waive this requirement?  Do you see this as problematic?

As for as not having a terminal degree, I would be fine with it.  It is a tradition based on having a President be a member of the faculty.  However colleges have moved away from that...especially smaller, private ones.  I think bringing in someone with his background would be fantastic, and its not like you could legitimately question Marquette's commitment to academics.

Here's the problem.  Not only does he not have a terminal degree, he doesn't even have a Master's Degree as far as I can tell.  The Presidential Search profile specifically calls for a terminal degree...I just don't think they are ready for that step.

[Coleman]

Personally I'd be ok with a President without a terminal degree, but I just don't think its gonna happen at MU anytime soon...

More ideally, would be someone with both academic experience and real world experience. They are rare, but it happens. A business leader who also has a PhD. Would be great to have someone with a foot in each world.

[keefe]

No way does Marquette hire this guy for that role. Nothing against him but that is a mandatory credential for a University President. There is a significant difference in role, scope, and focus between serving on the BoT and providing daily guidance for a University.

Bill Gates once commented that as a college drop out he could never hope to run Harvard. But it was more than just his lack of requisite academic credentials. He is smart enough to know there is a marked difference between running a business and leading a University.

I trust that Marquette understands just how crucial this hire is. 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

welp, if Fr P can teach poetry while running the alma mater into the ground, why can't the manpower dude be takin EMBA classes in Straz during his first year?

[Tugg Speedman]

No way does Marquette hire this guy for that role. Nothing against him but that is a mandatory credential for a University President. There is a significant difference in role, scope, and focus between serving on the BoT and providing daily guidance for a University.

Bill Gates once commented that as a college drop out he could never hope to run Harvard. But it was more than just his lack of requisite academic credentials. He is smart enough to know there is a marked difference between running a business and leading a University.

I trust that Marquette understands just how crucial this hire is.  

I understand the scholarship requirement but Joerres is not some Schmuck that has an office just off Plankington.  If the guy had a PhD, and I'm serious, he would get consideration to run Harvard or any other elite University if he was interested.  

Under his stewardship, he turned Manpower it into a $20 billion/year company with 31,000 employees in 80 countries.  It is the largest staffing company in the world.  If MU students care about getting a job after graduation, you would be hard pressed to find a guy more qualified anywhere in the world to lead a university in getting students ready and qualified for employment.  Joerres is so qualified in this area that he regularly visits the White House to talk the President and the Federal Reserve to talk to the Chairman.

He has everything you could possibly want.  Plus he graduated from MU, deeply loves the place and already lives in Milwaukee (no convincing him to move).  Problem is he never bother to get a terminal degree.

[mu_hilltopper]

Blah, blah, blah, where does he stand on bringing back the Warrior name?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I understand the scholarship requirement but Joerres is not some Schmuck that has an office just off Plankington.  If the guy had a PhD, and I'm serious, he would get consideration to run Harvard or any other elite University if he was interested.  

Under his stewardship, he turned Manpower it into a $20 billion/year company with 31,000 employees in 80 countries.  It is the largest staffing company in the world.  If MU students care about getting a job after graduation, you would be hard pressed to find a guy more qualified anywhere in the world to lead a university in getting students ready and qualified for employment.  Joerres is so qualified in this area that he regularly visits the White House to talk the President and the Federal Reserve to talk to the Chairman.

He has everything you could possibly want.  Plus he graduated from MU, deeply loves the place and already lives in Milwaukee (no convincing him to move).  Problem is he never bother to get a terminal degree.

I'm offended that his company is named Manpower.   Does he not care about women?  Is he that insensitive?  What about transgender temporary employees that work there? 

To be considered, he would have to lead change and put the name of his company as PeoplePower or PersonPower.

/sarc   (unfortunately, there are lunatics out there that will say this without the sarcasm).

[4everwarriors]

welp, if Fr P can teach poetry while running the alma mater into the ground, why can't the manpower dude be takin EMBA classes in Straz during his first year?

Or do online thru Keller, hey?

[mu03eng]

Bill Gates once commented that as a college drop out he could never hope to run Harvard. But it was more than just his lack of requisite academic credentials. He is smart enough to know there is a marked difference between running a business and leading a University.

I mean this question seriously, why should there be a difference?  I think some of the issues Marquette has are expressly because they can't recognize their diverse stakeholders and manage them appropriately.  I think if higher education providers were run more as a business we would see a lot more success out of them.  Plus I generally question status quo as a reflex.

[Tugg Speedman]

Blah, blah, blah, where does he stand on bringing back the Warrior name?

Don't know but he is in favor of Dwill getting more minutes than Dawson.

Does that mean he lost Ners vote?

[GGGG]

I understand the scholarship requirement but Joerres is not some Schmuck that has an office just off Plankington.  If the guy had a PhD, and I'm serious, he would get consideration to run Harvard or any other elite University if he was interested. 

Under his stewardship, he turned Manpower it into a $20 billion/year company with 31,000 employees in 80 countries.  It is the largest staffing company in the world.  If MU students care about getting a job after graduation, you would be hard pressed to find a guy more qualified anywhere in the world to lead a university in getting students ready and qualified for employment.  Joerres is so qualified in this area that he regularly visits the White House to talk the President and the Federal Reserve to talk to the Chairman.

He has everything you could possibly want.  Plus he graduated from MU, deeply loves the place and already lives in Milwaukee (no convincing him to move).  Problem is he never bother to get a terminal degree.

I go back and forth on this.

But one thing you have to understand is that faculty can make life real difficult for a University president.  And at some places, the faculty are simply not going to respect someone without a terminal degree...hell at some places they aren't going to respect a guy who hasn't achieved the rank of full professor.  Now would this happen at Marquette?  Eh...I doubt it.  Marquette's faculty seems to be pretty reasonable.

And let's not pretend that there aren't good candidates out there that don't have terminal degrees.  There are likely plenty of them.  The real question is are they fits for Marquette...are they Jesuits...that's what it's going to come down to.

[Coleman]

I'm offended that his company is named Manpower.   Does he not care about women?  Is he that insensitive?  What about transgender temporary employees that work there?  

To be considered, he would have to lead change and put the name of his company as PeoplePower or PersonPower.

/sarc   (unfortunately, there are lunatics out there that will say this without the sarcasm).

Cool, thanks for hijacking this thread and making it into some political issue that you wish to rail about, that has absolutely nothing to do with Marquette or the Presidential search.

[Tugg Speedman]

I go back and forth on this.

But one thing you have to understand is that faculty can make life real difficult for a University president.  And at some places, the faculty are simply not going to respect someone without a terminal degree...hell at some places they aren't going to respect a guy who hasn't achieved the rank of full professor.  Now would this happen at Marquette?  Eh...I doubt it.  Marquette's faculty seems to be pretty reasonable.

And let's not pretend that there aren't good candidates out there that don't have terminal degrees.  There are likely plenty of them.  The real question is are they fits for Marquette...are they Jesuits...that's what it's going to come down to.

Yes but this is MU!  As I tell family members that graduated from UW ...

"What is the difference between MU and Madison?"

Answer:  You don't have to graduate from MU to be Governor, just attending is good enough!

A MU undergrad degree is a terminal degree!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

Cool, thanks for hijacking this thread and making it into some political issue that you wish to rail about, that has absolutely nothing to do with Marquette or the Presidential search.

We have to be more inclusive.  Good thing his company isn't in Seattle, they might not even recognize its existence...certainly not if the employees brought a brown bag to work for lunch.

[GGGG]

Cool, thanks for hijacking this thread and making it into some political issue that you wish to rail about, that has absolutely nothing to do with Marquette or the Presidential search.

No kidding.  This is what Chico's does.  He simply craves the attention this gives him because he wants to make (yet another) political point on a forum where he knows it isn't allowed.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Sometimes a joke is just a joke..
Feel like I am back in a John Pick literature class where there are 4 levels  to every line.

   

[keefe]

he would get consideration to run Harvard

Uh, no. He wouldn't.

I am taking nothing away from this guy but you cannot compare running a staffing cum business services enterprise to leading an Ivy. There are certain...intangibles...that are mandatory in a resume which he in all likelihood simply lacks, beyond not having a terminal degree. 

Harvard would never consider Dr. Bill Gates or Dr. Jack Welch to serve as its President either. Each has a unique personality that is tailored for running their respective corporations (which have markedly different cultures); but those personalities would be venomous at an Ivy.

Bill Gates embraced the Hegelian Dialectic process of decision-making but once he made up his mind he expected absolute adherence to policy. He was famous for firing people on the spot at MS. I can just picture him storming into the office of Jose Gomez-Ibanez, Henry Kissinger, Larry Summers, or William Clark and telling them they are through.   

Jack Welch was masterful at managing GE shareholders but that is markedly different than managing alumni, who are just as accomplished in their own ways. And managing staff at GE is far easier than in a university. The corporation is a Darwinian hierarchy while the university is a confederation of ecosystems. What works at GE won't at Harvard.

So as regards Marquette, Joerres must have done a magnificent job driving shareholder value at Manpower but that is hardly a qualification for leading a second-tier private parochial Midwestern University with national ambitions. I think that Marquette knows what it must have - an accomplished academician with administrative experience who happens to be RC.

Once we get away from the silliness of teaching poetry classes at the tactical level rather than leading at the strategic we can see how Scott Pilarz failed in so many ways. The fact that several of his direct reports were in open combat with key staff is unforgiveable. His inability to raise funds, the lifeblood of any non-profit institution, was distasteful to him. And so too must it have been to his Athletic Director who oversaw a significant decrease in donations.

One of Jack Welch's greatest gifts is his ability to connect with people as individuals. When he came through Tokyo or Hong Kong he always made a point to ask how my wife (by name!) and kids were doing and if there was anything he could do here is a card with my direct line. Hell, he even mentioned that she was a Microsoftie. Fact is, he was briefed immediately before meeting on everyone's family details so he could use that ammo to inspire. I know he would not recall the names that evening but the fact he invested effort in such a small yet significant personal detail was telling. Compare that with Larry Williams who could not even pronounce the last names of key clients.

This hire by Marquette is crucial. It is my fervent hope they make the best possible decision if Marquette is to remain a leader in the Jesuit tradition. 

     

[GGGG]

Uh, no. He wouldn't.

I am taking nothing away from this guy but you cannot compare running a staffing cum business services enterprise to leading an Ivy. There are certain...intangibles...that are mandatory in a resume which he in all likelihood simply lacks, beyond not having a terminal degree. 

Harvard would never consider Dr. Bill Gates or Dr. Jack Welch to serve as its President either. Each has a unique personality that is tailored for running their respective corporations (which have markedly different cultures); but those personalities would be venomous at an Ivy.

Bill Gates embraced the Hegelian Dialectic process of decision-making but once he made up his mind he expected absolute adherence to policy. He was famous for firing people on the spot at MS. I can just picture him storming into the office of Jose Gomez-Ibanez, Henry Kissinger, Larry Summers, or William Clark and telling them they are through.   

Jack Welch was masterful at managing GE shareholders but that is markedly different than managing alumni, who are just as accomplished in their own ways. And managing staff at GE is far easier than in a university. The corporation is a Darwinian hierarchy while the university is a confederation of ecosystems. What works at GE won't at Harvard.

So as regards Marquette, Joerres must have done a magnificent job driving shareholder value at Manpower but that is hardly a qualification for leading a second-tier private parochial Midwestern University with national ambitions. I think that Marquette knows what it must have - an accomplished academician with administrative experience who happens to be RC.

Once we get away from the silliness of teaching poetry classes at the tactical level rather than leading at the strategic we can see how Scott Pilarz failed in so many ways. The fact that several of his direct reports were in open combat with key staff is unforgiveable. His inability to raise funds, the lifeblood of any non-profit institution, was distasteful to him. And so too must it have been to his Athletic Director who oversaw a significant decrease in donations.

One of Jack Welch's greatest gifts is his ability to connect with people as individuals. When he came through Tokyo or Hong Kong he always made a point to ask how my wife (by name!) and kids were doing and if there was anything he could do here is a card with my direct line. Hell, he even mentioned that she was a Microsoftie. Fact is, he was briefed immediately before meeting on everyone's family details so he could use that ammo to inspire. I know he would not recall the names that evening but the fact he invested effort in such a small yet significant personal detail was telling. Compare that with Larry Williams who could not even pronounce the last names of key clients.

This hire by Marquette is crucial. It is my fervent hope they make the best possible decision if Marquette is to remain a leader in the Jesuit tradition. 

     

This is very well stated.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

This hire by Marquette is crucial. It is my fervent hope they make the best possible decision if Marquette is to remain a leader in the Jesuit tradition. 

     

Honestly, why is this so important? I know Marquette is Jesuit affiliated but I dont want to say MU is leaving those Jesuit traditions but it is not as big of a focal point as it once was. Times are changing whether you like it or not and the current landscape of MU is completely different then when you were here.

[GGGG]

Honestly, why is this so important? I know Marquette is Jesuit affiliated but I dont want to say MU is leaving those Jesuit traditions but it is not as big of a focal point as it once was. Times are changing whether you like it or not and the current landscape of MU is completely different then when you were here.

keefe can correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think he means literally a Jesuit priest.  But a leader "in the Jesuit tradition," which could mean a lay person who is dedicated to cura personalis, caring for the whole person, academic rigor, a strong ethical base, etc.  Philosophies and standards that MU and other Jesuit schools have traditionally stood for.

[keefe]

Honestly, why is this so important? I know Marquette is Jesuit affiliated but I dont want to say MU is leaving those Jesuit traditions but it is not as big of a focal point as it once was. Times are changing whether you like it or not and the current landscape of MU is completely different then when you were here.

Every enterprise has a Raison d'être. Marquette's is its Jesuit Tradition. The Society's mission is not just cultivating the intellectual and ethical strengths of the individual but in ensuring these are fully integrated so that one can achieve both scholastic and moral excellence which is best articulated through service.

Marquette's commitment to this mission is why I chose to matriculate there. And those values are ones I try to apply in my daily life. If Marquette does not remain true to this mission then it really has no place in the buffet line of higher education.

You are young but I have to ask: Why did you choose Marquette if not for its commitment to Jesuit Values?

[keefe]

keefe can correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think he means literally a Jesuit priest.  But a leader "in the Jesuit tradition," which could mean a lay person who is dedicated to cura personalis, caring for the whole person, academic rigor, a strong ethical base, etc.  Philosophies and standards that MU and other Jesuit schools have traditionally stood for.

Sultan

Correct. I don't think a Roman Collar should be mandatory but a commitment to Jesuit Values is non-negotiable.

[4everwarriors]

Sometimes a joke is just a joke..
Feel like I am back in a John Pick literature class where there are 4 levels  to every line.

   

Was cool doe, when he wore the rubber chicken 'round his neck when studyin' "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner," hey?

[Coleman]

You are young but I have to ask: Why did you choose Marquette if not for its commitment to Jesuit Values?

Back in 2004, I was attracted to the bronze glow of our basketball coach.