A SPAM email signed by Jamie Bedard, CEO of Aberdeen Research, just crossed the transom and received the Toigo Treatment.
Here’s an extract of the email:
From: Bedard, Jamie [mailto:Jamie.Bedard@aberdeen.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 6:17 PM
To: Bedard, Jamie
Subject: Research Editor Career Fair – Media & Publication Aberdeen MembersSick of writing without the facts to back up your story? Stuck in a job that is just not keeping pace with your career goals? AberdeenGroup is the leading fact-based research firm in the market and ready to help you grow your career!
Over the past two years AberdeenGroup has achieved significant market success with our fact-based research. Did you know that over the past 12 months alone we:
Grew sales and revenues by 70%
Grew our research community to 125,000 members in 40 countries
Completed hundreds of research projects across business and technology
Benchmarked over 17,000 end users on technology and business process performance
Published hundreds of new research reports
Published thousands of new KPIs, metrics, and benchmarks
Launched AberdeenAccess on-line role-based research channels (check it out)
Ready to work in our Boston office and make a difference? Why not, now is the time for a change!AberdeenGroup is holding an Research Editor Career Fair in our Boston Office from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Friday, February 3rd. Get a chance to meet the entire team and experience the excitement first hand. To schedule a chance to visit with us please send your confidential resume to Jami.Siler@Aberdeen.com and mention the Research Editor Career Fair in the e-mail.
We currently are holding positions open for all levels of analysts in the following research areas. We will double the size of our team this quarter alone. Why not you?
To which I responded:
Dear Jamie,
Since when have I ever written anything that wasn’t backed up by facts? And why should I believe that your “facts” are facts?
Annoyed,
Jon Toigo
Was I too mean?
{ 19 comments }
Yes, you were too mean. You’ve eliminated any chance getting a job with these fine folks and relocating from dreary Dunedin to sunny and fun-loving Boston. Tsk, tsk.
Do NOT talk to, work with, or even LOOK at Bedard. In case you didn’t know, he is the devil and he’s been put here to do the devil’s work. You’ve been warned.
I have to agree w/Superior Thank You. Bedard is not only reprehensible, but more than a little unhinged. He is egomaniacal and will take any criticism to heart. Therefore he is dangerous. He’s a good salesman only in that he is a consummate liar. Much of what he says in the e-mail you quoted is either a lie or an exaggeration.
I attended the recent job fair at Aberdeen and I was told by the CEO that I would be invited back. Well, today I got a “thank you” note with the standard “While your background and skills are impressive, our management team feels that at this time, there are other applicants who would be a better fit for their requirements.” There is something really amiss with the CEO and the rest of the Aberdeen senior management. This blog has been dead-on about Aberdeen and I am finding the experience of adding my comments to be cathartic!
Jamie Bedard is running Aberdeen Group into the ground. Do NOT take a job with Aberdeen Group. Do not associate with Jamie Bedard. He is dangerous. As the company fails, Jamie Bedard fires people wildly, attempting to hide his responsibility by blaming others. Jamie Bedard has been described as pathological and as an egotistical madman. I know one thing, and one thing only. Jamie Bedard is a smarmy liar. He will mislead you and than screw you in the ass at his first opportunity.
Okay folks. I get it. You think Bedard is the Anti-Christ. I don’t know the guy and have zero interest in joining Aberdeen or any other paid shills for the industry.
Let’s can the commentary now.
I am not sure why there is so much mis-placed anger at Mr. Bedard. Mr. Bedard is an excellent CEO and leader; how else can you explain the tremendous growth and profitibility that Aberdeen is currently experienceing? Perhaps you worked for Jamie in the past and just didn’t cut the mustard? don’t take it out on him becuase you couldn’t live up to your expectations.
Don’t you believe it. I would not be surprised if that was Bedard himself who posted as Misplaced Anger. No one who has worked with this guy would ever say “…he is an excellent CEO and leader…” I smell a ruse. Revenue up – yes…everyone leaving – yes. If the revenues are up and he is great leader…explain the exodus!
I am sorry to violate Administrator’s plea to can the anti-Bedard chatter, but I have to second Smells a Rat’s post. What Bedard doesn’t realize is that he has no friends, no collegues. Even is closest associates at Aberdeen hate and fear him, consider him mad, plot against him. No one, not even those who left the company on ostensibly good terms would say that he is an “exellent CEO and leader,” for most (if not all) regard him as the most despicable type of man, one who they talked about behind his back and, only now having cast of their shackles can they truly rejoice. If he is reading this–as he surely is–Bedard should realize that he can trust no one at Aberdeen other than himself, that he is not in any way respected by his staff. If he were to look closely into the eyes of his underlings, he would see them smoldering with complete and utter contempt. They are waiting, nay, praying for his demise. Bedard should also realize that a company’s “profitibility” is not the only measure of success.
Guys, as I requested before, please stop the anti-Bedard chatter. I don’t care, personally, about anything any analyst has to say. What I do care about is bad guidance that can be documented.
Not long ago, a client told me that if they had listened to Gartner and replaced all PCs with NCs, they would have been out of business. Another client echoed, “And if we had followed IDCs recommendation with respect to Application Service Providers, we would have been waiting forever for the software services we needed to be provided via the web.” These are some pretty compelling misses by the analysts.
Can anyone cite some bad recommendations from Aberdeen? That would be a lot more interesting.
Administrator-I am sorry to keep the blog going about Aberdeen but if I can possibly request unbiased, factual information on whether or not Aberdeen Group and it’s CEO-James Bedard is a reputable and friendly company to work for?
You see I am considering joining Aberdeen Group but I obviously do not want to enter into a situation which previous bloggers have described as something akin to Dante’s 9th circle.
Again, any factual responses would be most appreciated. I think we have had enough vitriolic comments. I am only concerned with making a decision of should I or should I not continue to pursue a career with Aberdeen?
Thanks in advance for your understanding. Hoping to hear back soon!
“Concerned”
Concerned,
I have no idea. I appear to have touched a nerve simply by reporting a nit I had with a solicitation I received from the firm. I didn’t expect the tirade of responses and have repeatedly asked folks to ratchet back the noise.
Good luck in your job search.
Concerned,
Unfortunately I think you have it right. My own investigation to determine if these postings are sour grapes or a true reflection of the situation has turned up that Aberdeen is not a good place to work. Bullying, open screaming, sales over quality seem to the norms. Be careful.
4Reel
It’s a good thing you didn’t take the job at Aberdeen. Did you know that Jamie started his career as a Car Salesman… haha, no lie.. go figure. He also honed his skills running a CVS store.
Wow!!!
Thanks very much to both “For Reel” and “Def. for Real” for your replies. I actually had the “luxury” of interviewing.
Let’s just say my expectations were met in full!
What a complete waste of time!
I’d like to first respond to the Administrator, and then to everyone else. While I see your point that the anti-Bedard “chatter” is somewhat repetitive, it is also true that much of Mr. Bedard’s behavior relates directly to the quality and credibility of the research performed at Aberdeen. Anyone who has worked there (and anyone I have spoken to who currently works there) will tell you that he rules with an iron hand. His ethical stance as well as the other characteristics so accurately presented by those who wrote in permeate everything the company does. He will tell you the sky is red even when it is apparent and well-documented that it is blue. He will tell you that Aberdeen does no vendor-sponsored research – have you gone into the company and seen the reports on display? Research does not get off the ground without vendor sponsorship. He claims he has gotten away from the “vendor advocacy” model of the Aberdeen of the past, but it is simply not so. He will claim to agree to one thing even if what is “in writing” says another. The undeniable truth is that Jamie Bedard IS Aberdeen, and what he is, and isn’t, defines the research.
Jamie will respond to people who have interviewed there, or who were fired, that they were “old school analysts”. This is “red sky” language for “you found me out and I have to keep you away from my people or finding out any more about me”. He will chalk it all up to “sour grapes”, but what IT vendors, end users, and prospective employees much realize is that he is a danger to the profession and to the industry.
There is a great deal more to know. If anyone wishes to tap into more detail, respond with contact info and I will get back to you. Keep in mind, however, that one can really not put past Jamie and/or his close confidants that they are monitoring this information and may respond to this. Care will be taken.
I went through the interview process at Aberdeen and had a terrible experience. Each executive who met with me spent no more than 15 minutes. I interviewed with 6 people in 1 hour. They had the nerve to call and invite me back for a second round claiming they thought I was great! What a joke…they didn’t ask me any difficult questions just bs-ing. They hire without diving into your background because I hear they fire on the spot if it doesn’t work.
Having worked at Aberdeen, I can tell you that within our direct research practice THREE analysts left within a 6-month period due to unacceptable working conditions. In fact, 18-people have left the company from Jan 1st 2006 to Oct 1st 2006 based on horrendous experiences with management and completely inadequate working conditions. Jamie Bedard and David Southwick do NOT care about their employees whatsoever and only really care about one thing… the bottom line. Anyone who has worked at Aberdeen within any function will tell you that this company is run purely by fear and intimidation. If you are thinking about taking a job there then do yourself a GIGANTIC favor… move on and never look back twice!
I will also tell you that Aberdeen’s “Sponsorship” lead generation program is a total waste of marketing $$$ as leads are constantly recycled from old report downloads. Not only does Aberdeen not care about their employees, but they could care even less about their customers!
Couldn’t agree more. Have you seen the accounting practices at Aberdeen and looked into the way they recognize revenue and sales back-log. They are a fraud and it made me sick to work there. The CFO used to make me move numbers constantly which will ultimately get him fired. I f I questioned him, his response was just do it!! Now that they are owned by a publicly traded company who will demand SarbOx compliance, they will be exposed for their lack of profitability.
Comments on this entry are closed.