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Title: Caution to CEOs posting on message boards under pseudonyms Post by: dystopia on July 12, 2007, 12:56:34 PM Whole Foods CEO Hid on Message Board http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/smw/index.cfm?story=20070712105705 Quote NEW YORK (Dow Jones) -- In January 2005, someone using the name "Rahodeb" went online to a Yahoo stock-market forum and posted this opinion: No company would want to buy Wild Oats Markets Inc., a natural-foods grocer, at its price then of about $8 a share. "Would Whole Foods buy OATS?" Rahodeb asked, using Wild Oats' stock symbol. "Almost surely not at current prices. What would they gain? OATS locations are too small." Rahodeb speculated that Wild Oats eventually would be sold after sliding into bankruptcy or when its stock fell below $5. A month later, Rahodeb wrote that Wild Oats management "clearly doesn't know what it is doing. . . . OATS has no value and no future." The comments were typical of banter on Internet message boards for stocks, but the writer's identity was anything but. Rahodeb was an online pseudonym of John Mackey, co-founder and chief executive of Whole Foods Market Inc. Earlier this year, his company agreed to buy Wild Oats for $565 million, or $18.50 a share. For about eight years until last August, the company confirms, Mr. Mackey posted numerous messages on Yahoo Finance stock forums as Rahodeb. It's an anagram of Deborah, Mr. Mackey's wife's name. Rahodeb cheered Whole Foods' financial results, trumpeted his gains on the stock and bashed Wild Oats. Rahodeb even defended Mr. Mackey's haircut when another user poked fun at a photo in the annual report. "I like Mackey's haircut," Rahodeb said. "I think he looks cute!" Title: Re: Caution to CEOs posting on message boards under pseudonyms Post by: gleek on July 12, 2007, 01:29:15 PM Quote Rahodeb even defended Mr. Mackey's haircut when another user poked fun at a photo in the annual report. "I like Mackey's haircut," Rahodeb said. "I think he looks cute!" LOL Title: Re: Caution to CEOs posting on message boards under pseudonyms Post by: Blader on July 13, 2007, 04:58:50 AM At times like this I try to stop and think, "What would Richard Branson do?"
Of course, Richard Branson would use his real name, et cetera and so forth, ESPECIALLY if posting anonymously on the internets. As do I. (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/01/best_communicators/image/branson.jpg) Title: Re: Caution to CEOs posting on message boards under pseudonyms Post by: Jules on July 13, 2007, 02:04:33 PM I often wonder now, if Richard Branson gets stopped at airports, and mistakingly get asked if he is "BLADER'.!!!!
Especially in that outfit!!!!! ;D |