Cry havoc, and let slip the CEOs?
Last week, two of the top dogs in the telecommunications world went at it over Twitter. T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere and Sprint’s CEO Marcelo Claure sparred over Sprint’s “All In” wireless plan for all the world to see.
Legere took the first swing, claiming that Sprint’s plan was a “miss.” And Claure fired back with several tweets expressing his anger, claiming that T-Mobile’s Uncarrier plan misleads customers, is a “joke,” and, using some choice words, a bunch of bull. After that, Legere tweeted a couple more times boasting about hitting Claure’s nerve and calling him “bro.”
The exchange raises the question: How visible should high-profile executives be on social media? We want them to express their real opinions (as opposed to corporate drivel) just like everyone else, right?
Sure, the argument sparked attention and got people talking. And Twitter repartee certainly works for Taylor Swift and Rihanna — their fans seem to love it. But is back-and-forth name-calling effective for large corporations? Does the controversy drive business? Or does it simply make both parties appear childish?
In short, do you think major executives need to be put on a social media leash or let loose?
