The Truth

The CFO, the HR director, the Marketing Director, the Finance director never told the CEO the truth about our hero’s decision to leave. They never mentioned the stock options issue. They told him that he wanted to leave Peru because of family issues!!! According to their story his wife threatened to leave him if they did not leave Peru!!! Now it was clear to our hero. The CEO never knew about the stock option issue. They never told him about the real problem because probably they had no authorization to offer stock options to our hero, in order to persuade him to join the group. That is why the CEO offered a position in Greece. He thought that he would be solving our hero's problem. The “problem” with our hero’s wife wanting to move from Peru. Unbelievable our hero thought. At least now the CEO knows the truth. Maybe it is too late, but better now than never. Even if he lost money, money that he had worked for, after his decision to communicate with the CEO, it was worth it.

Ungrateful!!!

In about half an hour after he sent the mail, the HR director and the CFO sent him both(!!) mails, telling him that he had no right to do this!!! That he was ungrateful (!!!) and did not respect his colleagues and the chain of command. Our hero could not believe his eyes. Imagine: He was deceived by these people and now being accused of ungratefulness! The CFO also told him that under these circumstances he could not give him the compensation he had already worked for in Argentina!!! This was the closure with the company he trusted one year ago. For which he decided to move to another continent. Incredible he thought. But he could not understand why everybody was so frustrated with him after sending the mail to the CEO. But he decided to find out. And he did. And was even more shocked.

The e-mail

Nearly a month had passed and our hero had not heard anything about his money. The same story he thought. He called the HR director, sometimes he answered and made promises and sometimes he did not answer at all. Our hero was furious. The company did not even want to pay him money he had worked for. He was getting tired. But he could not lose any more time. He had to move on. He decided to leave the issue as it was. Not to ask for the money anymore, but just wait. However he wanted to thank the CEO and say goodbye to him. He decided to send an email, in which the reasons for his decision to leave were clearly stated. He prepared the mail and sent it. He could not imagine what followed.

The first week in Greece

The first week in Greece was very difficult. The weather was very hot, the jet lag, the clearance of their possessions in customs. After a couple of days he was able to go to group central offices in order to finalize his issues. He wanted to receive the compensation regarding Argentina he was promised and say goodbye to some colleagues. He met the HR director and asked him were the compensation issue was. Don’t worry he said. We only need one signature from the CFO and we are ready. I would like to say goodbye to the CEO and thank him for his offer he said. Well I don’t know said the HR director. He is very busy these days and it will be difficult. I will thank him for you. Our hero was puzzled and left the offices. Is there a reason he thought that he doesn’t want me to see him? Of course there was.

Goodbye Peru, Hello Greece

The same afternoon they went to the airport to catch their flight. Our hero had mixed emotions. He was happy to go home. But he was also sad of how things had turned out for him within the group. He had joined the group with great expectations, leaving a nice job he had in Greece. And now, one year later he is returning home because the company deceived him. He did not have a job, and there were no guarantees on when he would get one. However, he knew that he had made the right choice. He looked at his family, his wife and child. Nobody could mess around with them. You either keep your side of the deal, or the deal is off. They were near the check in area. He held his son with one arm and held his wife’s hand with the other. Let’s go home he said. Good bye Peru, Hello Greece.

Adios Amigos

On our hero’s final day, a big farewell party was organized in the company. Everybody wanted to say goodbye to our hero. Everybody knew that he gave the company everything he had. And he also showed great respect to everybody. This was highly appreciated. Our hero was very emotional. He was proud to be a part of this team. These people, although not appreciated from headquarters, were great professionals and good friends. They had done something unique for him and his family. They made him feel at home. And this is something he would never forget. He made a very difficult speech. Thank you for everything he said. It has been a pleasure and an honor working working with you. Peru and especially you people will always have a special place in my heart. Adios Amigos. Gracias por todo.

An unforgettable experience

Since our hero and his family would be returning to Greece, they decided to enjoy Peru as much as they could. So they visited the fabulous Machu Picchu. They flew over the Nazca Lines and visited the jungle. Of course they also enjoyed the magnificent Peruvian Cuisine. They went to all the restaurants they liked: Rafael, Tanta, La Carreta, Kala, Tsilis, Chinese food, Japanese and to all the great choices you have in Peru. The Peruvian food is unique and is highly recommended. It will be an unforgettable experience!

Very Soon

He could not understand the offer. This does not solve the issues he had with his compensation. He did not have any problem being an expatriate. His only problem was the fact that the company did not keep it’s part of the deal. His transfer to Athens would not solve this. Furthermore our hero thought that it could not be possible to act as a CFO based in Athens. He would have to travel to Latin America all the time and would have to be apart from his family. The very next day he called the HR director to kindly reject the offer, explaining him his rationale. However he asked him to thank the group CEO for his offer. However he remained troubled. He could not understand the CEO’s offer and how it was supposed to solve his issues.

Very soon he would understand… And would be shocked...

CFO Latin America

After a month our hero received a phone call from the HR director. It was probably one of the strangest calls that he had received. I have news for you the HR director said. It is an offer you cannot resist he continued. What do you mean our hero asked? We had a discussion with the group CEO and informed him about your situation. He does not want to lose you and that is why he will make you a great offer. What do you mean? Our hero asked. Although he cannot do anything about stock options for now, he wants you to become CFO of Latin America, based in Athens with almost the same compensation you receive today. You will receive stock options next year. But you have to answer me in 2 days. Our hero was surprised.

Two Issues

The first one was the informing of the group CEO regarding his decision. Our hero had decided not to inform him directly, since he was not his direct boss, but wanted him to be properly informed regarding his decision. The second issue was his compensation regarding the work he did in Argentina. Our hero believed that since he was treated unfairly by the company, the least it could do is offer him compensation for the additional work he had provided. Both the HR director and the group CFO told him that everything would be taken care of: The group CEO would be fully informed and that he would be paid for Argentina. However, both of them told him that they would not stop trying to change his mind.

The Final Three Months

The final three months were very difficult for our hero. Besides the job pressure and the relocating preparations he received enormous pressure from headquarters in order to change his mind and remain with the group. On the one hand it was nice to see that he was appreciated, but on the other hand our hero was very sad that he did not receive this appreciation when he asked over and over again for solutions regarding his problems. In any case our hero had already closed this chapter of his career and was thinking of the next one. Remeber he would be returning to Athens in the middle of the summer without a job. He had some contacts, but things would not be easy. However before finding his next job, he had two issues to discuss with his current company that concerned him very much.

Preparations

Our hero’s decision was final. He believed that since he had resigned there would be no return. However the CFO told him to think about it a couple of days and then talk again. He was quite pushy so our hero told him that he would be willing to talk, but also told him that he would not change his mind. Anyway the CFO was not offering anything but promises. Since our hero had completely lost faith in the company, this wasn’t worth much. In the meanwhile our hero continued to work very hard in both companies in order not to leave any important issues open after his departure. This would take place in about three months. He decided to give the company adequate time in order to find solutions for his substitution in both companies. However he started preparing for his departure to Greece. They purchased the airport tickets and started to serach for moving companies in order to arrange for the transportation of their things.

Another Phone Call

The next day the CFO finally called. He tried to change our hero’s mind. He told him that he should have talked to him directly about his issues and not through the HR director. Our hero was surprised. Weren’t you informed about my issues he asked? Yes, I was but it is not the same to hear it from you directly. Our hero could not believe this answer. Since he was informed correctly from the HR director, what would be the difference if our hero repeated the same things? Anyway he stopped thinking about it and considered it an effort from the CFO to convince him to stay through promising that from now on all issues would be handled directly by him. About the stock options he said it was a mistake from the HR director. He should not have committed to something like this. However I will personally see that next year you will receive stock options. How about this year our hero asked? How can we cover the lack of stock options? I am afraid it is not possible to do anything this year the CFO said. I can’t offer you anything now, but next year…. Our hero was beginning to get tired. The same story…