While I was at a sales pitch in Bengaluru, I got a call from Carl informing me that he had been let go and he was leaving almost immediately. My new boss, Robert Bland, was a tough, whisky-loving Australian who, it seemed, was Sam’s man from way back. He had worked with Sam in some other parts of the world and was, therefore, likely to be a very hire-and-fire type of chap himself.
Shortly after Robert joined Star TV in Hong Kong, I deliberated over whether I should call him and introduce myself or wait for him to call me. I didn’t want to be seen to be sucking up to him by calling him and, conversely, I didn’t want to be seen as arrogant by not getting in touch. Better sense prevailed and I called him.
Of course, I’d rehearsed what I was going to say to him several times. But he wasn’t available and was, it seemed to me, to be forever stuck in meetings. His secretary would say that she would let him know I’d called, but days went by and Robert hadn’t called…