Regrets and Apologies (But it Wasn’t My Fault!)

“I apologize for the option-related problems that happened under my leadership, I believe that the company has come a long way since 2003 in addressing these deficiencies, but am deeply disappointed it happened nonetheless.” — Shelby Bonnie, ex-chief executive, CNet Networks, carefully avoiding admitting that that he was actually involved. “I have retired as Chairman and CEO in the best interests of the company, its shareholders and employees. I regret that some of the stock option problems identified by the Special Committee occurred on my watch.” — George Samenuk, CEO, McAfee, also apparently had nothing to do with the issue, it just sort of happened like the boiler leaking. What with the furor over at HP and the exit of the company’s chairman and now Apple, Novell, Dell, CNET, and McAfee all getting into hot water over their improper backdating of stock options you have to wonder about the state of the high-tech world’s corporate ethics.