Last week, BP's (NYSE: BP) spokesman warned -- er, informed the press that CEO Tony Hayward would speak about the ongoing situation in the Gulf. My first thought? "Oh no! He's about to irritate us all again." My second thought was that maybe he'd resign; that prediction didn't come to pass this time, but it may be inevitable.
Hayward's made a bad situation worse with unusual and insensitive utterances, like wondering "What the hell did we do to deserve this?" and admitting he'd like his life back. Such comments only make public rage burn brighter. They also make one wonder what exactly BP shareholders are paying him so generously for.
So what's up with that guy? Hayward's tendency toward mind-blowing cases of foot-in-mouth syndrome has made the disaster more shameful than ever. Top executives at Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and Toyota (NYSE: TM), which suffered recent public relations tarnishings, must be breathing sighs of relief, now that Hayward's apparently eclipsed them on the public's spit list. I can't speak for BP shareholders, but I wish the company would put a "containment dome" on Hayward's own toxic commentary leaks.
Do you think Hayward will end up giving up his post before all is said and done? Which firm do you think handled its public relations issues the worst? Let us know in the poll and the comment box below.
Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned. The Fool has a disclosure policy.
