Mackey Apologizes. Internal Investigation Launched.

At first he defended his anonymous postings. (Bad move.)

And now he apologizes. (Good move.)

Whole Foods has done some selective online editing by taking down all of Mackey's earlier blog postings. And removing Mackey's defensive stance on his "rahodeb" postings. (You can still read it here.)

Its Board of Directors has initiated an internal investigation into Mackey's kinky business behavior. (Good move.)

Wouldn't surprise me if Mackey loses his CEO title but retains his Chairman title. (Yeah, I'm going out on a limb here.)

The messiness continues. (Clean-up, aisle 7.)

Comments

[Jon H.]

What else could he do but aplogize? His behavior was highly unethical, perhaps criminal. He has for years been touting himself (on his own blog) as the paragon of transparency, and then it was revealed that for seven-plus years he was touting himself and his company, and ripping a competitor, under an alias. Yes, he should be fired. The guy's hubris is so great it took him a week of heat to force him to apologize. Actually it took several days for the media and the blogosphere to really turn on him. Why? -- see: http://jon8332.typepad.com/force_for_good/2007/07/wacky-mackey-ep.html

[johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)]

Nice riffs on this mess Jon. Readers here should check out what you've said here, here, here, and here.

[DayNovo]

Mr. Mackey’s predilection for anonymous rantings is far from unique in the corridors of power. So much so that at least one startup has stepped into the void to assist acronym-challened CEOs. Check it out at: http://sneakybusiness.typepad.com/sneaky/2007/07/ceos-yearn-for-.html

[Nettie Hartsock]

Hi John,

I'm so glad he apologized. I blogged on his first mistep and got several emails from Austin folks who told me I can't shop at Whole foods anymore.:>)

http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/public-relations/4353658-1.html