The world reacts to the world's first self-inflicted corporate termination. Reactions range from "baffled" to "deeply concerned" to "is this legal?"
The Financial Times
NEWSPAPERIn a move that has left governance experts simultaneously baffled and impressed, H. Buckley, founder and CEO of Founder Fired Inc., has terminated his own employment following a performance review he conducted on himself. "We've never seen anything like this," said one analyst, who asked not to be named because they were still laughing.
TechCrunch
TECH MEDIAMove fast and fire yourself. That appears to be the new mantra at Founder Fired Inc., where founder H. Buckley has pioneered what he calls a "radically transparent accountability framework" — which is to say, he fired himself. Investors are calling it "bold." Lawyers are calling it "unprecedented." H. Buckley is calling it "a learning opportunity."
Harvard Business Review
ACADEMICIn this paper, we examine the governance implications of a founder who simultaneously occupies the roles of performance reviewer, reviewed party, HR officer, and terminated employee. We find that while the Buckley model is theoretically incoherent, it is also, somehow, legally binding. We have no further comment at this time.
The Onion
SATIRELocal founder H. Buckley announced Monday that he has retained legal counsel — himself — to pursue a wrongful termination claim against himself following his own decision to fire himself last week. "My client has a very strong case," said Buckley. "I'm not sure I agree," added Buckley.
Marcus Thornton-Webb
Chief Disruption Officer | Thought Leader | Available for Speaking
Incredibly inspired by what Hamish Buckley has done here. Firing yourself takes COURAGE. It takes VISION. It takes a complete inability to distinguish between the roles of employer and employee. But mostly COURAGE. This is the kind of radical accountability that separates good leaders from GREAT leaders. Reposting with thoughts. 🔥🔥🔥
Dr. Priya Nair-Goldstein
Executive Coach | Helping Leaders Lead Leaderly | TEDx Speaker (Pending)
I've coached hundreds of executives. I've never coached one who fired themselves. Until now. Hamish reached out to me for post-termination coaching. I asked who terminated him. He said himself. I asked who he'd like to coach him through it. He said himself. I said I'd send an invoice. He said he'd dispute it. We're making great progress.
◆ Featured — H. Buckley Himself
H. Buckley
Founder & CEO (Terminated) | Available for Opportunities | Open to Work
Excited to share that I'm officially #OpenToWork following my recent termination (self-inflicted). I bring 7 years of experience founding and running Founder Fired Inc., as well as 7 years of experience being the only employee of Founder Fired Inc., as well as 7 years of experience being the only person who could have fired me, which I did. DMs open. References available (H. Buckley).
Gerald Fitch-Pemberton III
Investor | Board Member (Multiple) | Not H. Buckley
From a governance perspective, what Buckley has done here is either the most sophisticated act of self-accountability in corporate history, or a complete breakdown of the separation of powers. I've been on 23 boards. I've never seen this. I'm adding it to my LinkedIn article series: "Governance Failures That Made Me Feel Better About My Own Boards."
Media Sentiment
"We've never seen anything like this. We're still laughing."
— Unnamed analyst, FT