Level 3 Communications not long ago said that its executives would not receive bonuses following a disappointing 2007 financial performance by the company. It seemed like a humble gesture at the time, but anyone who takes a look at the separation deal for the company's recently-ousted chief operating officer may forget all previous attempts at humility.
Outgoing COO Kevin O'Hara, who left the company effective March 10, will be paid his full base salary for this year--$585,000-plus $100,000 per month in consultation fees for possibly as long as a year. Some investors, employees and customers may want to know why Level 3 is so eager to consult with the executive who couldn't effectively manage the company's post M&A-binge operational integration.
Integration challenges led to service installation and delivery problems, O'Hara himself admitted at an investor conference just weeks ago. Level 3, however, now says the integration is on course, and that the company's overall situation is improving.
FierceTelecom readers vented recently about the pay and perks that star execs like Randall Stephenson at AT&T and Ivan Seidenberg at Verizon Communications received for 2007. If that's how you feel about pay for executives at companies that have done well, how do you feel about O'Hara's exit package?
For more read this story about O'Hara's deal at Telephony and see this story about the integration effort at Light Reading. - Dan