I've seen that ski.
Being co-chairs, I could see the conversation were Mr. Mehue suggest he handle operations and legal/government issues while using his network to spark investment and deals, while Urban continue to promote and use his network to spark investment and deals.
I'm going to go off topic a bit, but the history of Debeers reminds me indirectly that the founder of Debeers possessed traits that both Urban and Mr. Mehue possess separately.
If you look back to the history of Debeers, the brothers de Beer (no 's' on their last name) sold their farm and in the late 1800's. It became controlled by 2 men, Cecil Rhodes and Charles Rudd. Rhodes was a promoter, a dealmaker. Rudd was his neighbor and owned claims which combined formed the DeBeers Mining Co. The Rhodes joined the South African parliment so he could wield more power and influence. It's been written that in parliment he was frank and tactless, but very efficient, charsmatic and highly respected. In 1888 he announced the Debeers Consolidated Mines Company. Being an Englishman who had saavy influence through his past political ties in South Africa, he was able to regulate the sale of diamonds so the supply and demand would be stable. His influence and company gave rise to the London Diamond Syndicate which created a perfect supply and demand for his business. The result is the largest diamond mining company in the world for the past 100 years.
Marketing promoter, charismatic, risk taker, claim owner. That sounds familar. UC
Saavy, connected, influencial, respected, action oriented. That sounds familiar too. IBM
Some FWIW comparisons.
Bo
