Don Willis Out at PCGS
joconnor
Posts: 462 ✭✭✭
Now, what comes next ...
0
joconnor
Posts: 462 ✭✭✭
Comments
He quit yesterday, I heard
link
Wow.
No link.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
"Wow" is right!
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
At least we'll always have his rules post to remember him by.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Holy crap!
Maybe he will post here more.
Collector, occasional seller
I'm looking forward to the next year or two - I think that the leadership at CU has an opportunity to make some bold moves, and the hobby is ready for real change. HRH, Willis, et al. did some amazing things over the years, but I have no doubt that there are some brilliant innovators waiting in the wings...
"The King is dead, long live the King!" And all that jazz.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
No way!
He's like the Tim Cook of Apple!
Wow
Hopefully management will make the right choices.
To clarify, Don resigned by his own will.
Correct. I've been waiting for this thread to start.
It's sad. Don did such a tremendous job, and I can't think of anybody else that could replace him.
https://www.pcgs.com/news/pcgs-thanks-don-willis A link for anyone who would like to read the release
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
WOW, what the heck is going on here.
2 industry leaders like that, hard to imagine a good reason for this action.
David Hall is an industry giant and Don Willis is a industry big wig as well.
I am really sorry to hear this news.
Interesting Quote from Joe Orlando:
"In addition to further developing our current team, we will be adding new talent to PCGS as part of our long-term investment in providing outstanding products and services."
Dropping like flies!
Ms. Boyd has the hammer...
Does this mean we all go back to Zero warnings? I was at the end of the plank with my toes over its edge.
You must be misremembering the events as I was the one who unbanned you after another moderator dropped the hammer
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
What a year, 2018, for PCGS. Wish the best for all!
Exciting things to come! PCGS provides team building and leadership training to our staff as well as access to higher education and skill building courses.
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
Stay on topic, keep things positive and appropriate, and let Heather handle the people who are NOT doing these three things!!
Edited to add....for those who have asked....no, I am not part of Collector's Universe! It's just a coincidence that part of my user name is shared with an iconic person who recently left PCGS...and my email address contains the letters "cu"!
I’m always watching
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
I remember exactly. Mr. Willis PM'ed me about my toes after you interceded for all of us so we could return.
As I understand it, you were put in complete control of CU many weeks ago when Don was still there. That means you have had the hammer since then.
Did you read about my suggestion about a meet and greet by you at the PCGS table in FL?
PS AFAIK, Mr Willis was an administrator. Therefore, the grading will be unaffected. Apparently, the company will bring in another leader either with fresh ideas or closer to the direction the company wishes to go. Furthermore, they may save some money at the same time.
Folks as Hall and Willis usually get to chart their own path and even when influenced by the actions of outside forces they will land on their feet.
No one said anything about replacing knowledge and experience with enthusiasm and youth. We are simply investing in our staff, many of which have been with the company for over a decade, in addition to bringing in “new” talent, which means simply that they are new additions to the PCGS team.
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
Thank God.
My Type Set & My Complete Proof Nickel Set!
Heather---Are you now in charge of PCGS?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
This is a very mature industry. People like David and Don, and some people on the other side of the aisle, are greatly responsible for expanding the appeal of the hobby.
I remember the pre-slabbing days, when the shop owner's coin was a "gem BU" when he (and it was always a he) sold it to you, and when you wanted to sell it back to him, he'd look you in the eye and tell you it was an Unc. If you sold it to him and came back the next day, it was marked as a "gem BU."
For that reason, I never put what for me was serious money into the hobby until the era of slabbing came about, and I also learned a bit about grading coins. You can thank David, Don, and a few others (this is a PCGS forum, so I won't name them) for making this happen. I think I speak for many others.
However, to reiterate, this is a mature industry, and personally, I don't think the current business model is sustainable. I am waiting to see what comes next.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
And the beat goes on.....
Maybe Vlad the Impaler.
Why do I get the feeling that in the end this is going to cost us more money?
any bold moves you recommend?
I don't have the history with PCGS that a lot of you have, so while I recognize and respect the tremendous achievements and contributions of these recently departed individuals, I am not as inherently pessimistic as some seem to be.
I assume that these people built an operation that could outlast them - to not do this would have been foolish and irresponsible.
We are not privy to any insiders fact so let's wish PCGS our best to grow into their future
My best wishes for Mr. Don Willis as well as Ms. Heather Boyd on whatever capacity she was given upon
This is nothing worth bickering ........ most of us are still blessed with our home etc
Corporations do go through reconstructing periods to stay competitive in the market place
I could recommend many, but I'm just a lowly numismatist.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Chill, people. No business is utterly dependent upon any one individual with the exception of CAC.
Hopefully service will improve and stock price will recover. Seems like a wealth of knowledge just left though, that specialized knowledge can’t be replaced overnight.
Is the birth of a new TPGS on the horizon?
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Never met the cat but wish him good luck in his future endeavors. If your hiring let me know, would take quite a bit to pull me off my current gig but everything is negotiable.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
ARGH! I don't like change! First Dave Hall then Don Willis and later this year BJ will be gone. I DON'T LIKE IT!
Not to knock HRH and DW or anyone else, but what was the last brilliant innovation (from the customer's perspective) that we've seen from PCGS?
That's not a rhetorical question. Let's hear some answers.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Other than updating holders with newer secure features?
Not “what,” but who or how many more will soon be ex cu employees?
I wouldn't call those "brilliant innovations", but better slabs are certainly important.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I don't think anyone means any disrespect to PCGS and I realize we don't know the facts behind these actions.
It is just that David Hall and Don Willis were held in high regard by many people here and we feel bad for them.
Please understand we are just expressing our support for 2 guys who were a huge part in making PCGS what it is today.
With out Hall there would be no PCGS today.
@MrEureka asked: "...what was the last brilliant innovation (from the customer's perspective) that we've seen from PCGS?"
Are you referring to Ms. Boyd taking over CU?