For a moment Gregory looked as though he might stand. Then the lead director called for a vote. The motion passed with the required majority, including several directors who had served under Whitman management for years. The room had not become a place of unanimous personal agreement, but it had become a place where the evidence was too clear to ignore.
Madison turned toward the six executives. "Gregory Whitman, you are removed as chief executive officer. Katherine Anderson, you are removed as chief financial officer. Bradley Wilson, you are removed as chief operating officer."
She continued, taking care that every name was clearly heard. "Victoria Davis, you are removed from the leadership of human resources. Richard Brown, you are removed as head of sales. Helena Moore, you are relieved of your position as general counsel."
She paused after the final name. "Independent counsel will review the conduct, applicable employment agreements, and any other evidence that emerges. Where termination for cause is warranted, it will be pursued. Nobody here is being denied an opportunity to answer the allegations. But none of you will direct this company's employees or control its records while that process takes place."
Gregory sat perfectly still for several seconds. He had arrived that morning believing that the closing of the acquisition meant he would surrender some control while keeping the title he had carried for eleven years. He had negotiated a retention package and spoken to clients about continuity. Hearing his removal announced before the people who once deferred to him was so unfamiliar that he seemed unable to recognize it as a real event.
"My grandfather built this company," he said eventually, his voice rough. "My family name is on the door. Surely this deserves a conversation about severance and continuity before you make a decision this destructive."
"Your family's history deserves to be recorded accurately," Madison said. "So does what you did downstairs. The question of severance will be determined by your contract and the findings of the independent review. Your family name does not exempt you from the standards your employees are expected to follow."
Bradley tried a different approach. "The situation was out of control," he said. "We thought we had an unidentified person who could compromise the building. The security team was slow. I had to act."
Naomi Feld consulted her notes. "The recordings show that the receptionist and guard were attempting verification and that you interrupted the process. You also took Ms. Parker's portfolio without her consent. Do you dispute either action?"
Bradley glanced at the screen. "I was trying to see what she had."
"Then that is your explanation," Naomi answered. "It will be included."
Katherine insisted that she had meant no offense and that her remarks were the sort of exaggerated conversation colleagues often used in a stressful workplace. Richard claimed he had mistaken Madison for a delivery worker and that directing a delivery worker toward the service entrance could hardly constitute misconduct. Their explanations grew less convincing as each found himself required to account for the words actually captured on video. Madison noticed that not one of them initially asked whether Sarah or the guards might face consequences for following their orders.