http://www.thestandard.com/squeeze-play-1-week-ceo Comments for "Squeeze Play: 1 Week as CEO" en http://www.thestandard.com/squeeze-play-1-week-ceo <p><!--paging_filter--> <p> Running a company these days takes versatility as well as speed. From frontman and technology savant to back-patter and company spy, the CEO plays a variety of roles. Consider the far-flung duties Office Depot CEO Bruce Nelson performed in a single week earlier this year: </p> <p>THE WIRED TRAVELER: Flew to Tucson, Ariz., Lafayette, La., and Jacksonville, Fla., answering e-mail on his laptop while in flight. </p> <p>THE OFFICE-SUPPLY SPY: Sauntered into OfficeMax outlets, pretending to be a customer, to inspect what the competition was selling. </p> <p>THE ENFORCER: Delegated duties to his VPs and then gave them a lecture on accountability. </p> <p>THE BENEVOLENT BOSS: Visited five Office Depot stores, handed out bonuses and bought a Cajun lunch for employees at a top-performing store. </p> <p>THE SCHMOOZER: Dined with the Newell Rubbermaid board of directors and gave a briefing about the office-products industry. </p> <p>THE TECH AFICIONADO: Accepted a magazine award lauding Office Depot's information-technology record. </p> <p>THE WHEEL GREASER: Spent the better part of one day in back-to-back 15-minute meetings with managers, getting updates and giving advice. </p> <p>THE PUBLIC FACE: Spent time talking to the media about his efforts to revive his troubled company.<br /> <br></p> Money And Markets Mon, 16 Apr 2001 15:00:00 -0700 Baldwin Louie 90568 at http://www.thestandard.com