I was first introduced to Rick Crandall in early 1996 when I was considering a position of senior vice president of corporate development for Giga Information Group, an information technology (IT) advisory services company founded in 1995 by Gideon Gartner, founder and former CEO of Gartner Group.  In addition to serving on Giga’s board of directors, Rick was also providing strategic and operational assistance to Gideon and other key executives within Giga.  While I had the benefit of Rick’s counsel upon joining Giga, it wasn’t until I was appointed Giga’s president and chief operating officer three months later that I can to appreciate what an invaluable and unique resource he really was.

Rick offered me direct, insightful, thoughtful and practical advice and counsel on a broad spectrum of issues and problems that I was facing as a new chief executive within an intense, ambiguous, constantly changing and fast-paced environment typical of any young, start-up company.  In particular, Rick helped me frame and analyze complex, difficult and often times politically charged issues on business strategy, board governance, CEO-Board relations, evaluation of executive talent, finance, technology vision, CEO-COO relations, strategic alliances and organization structures.

In addition to providing me, other executives on my team and other board members with valuable insights and advice, Rick also played the role of professional “question-asker” or “issue-raiser.”  However, Rick was also never shy about being direct and to the point, when needed.  He was very effective in drawing out the gut issues so that they could be appropriately addressed.  Rick always appeared to be independent from, yet knowledgeable of, internal prejudices and biases that allowed him to be more objective and thus extremely effective.

Rick’s approach in working with me was individualistic and personal; his style with me and with the company was neither intrusive nor challenging but instead facilitating and engaging.  This, in turn, fostered trust, cooperation, and openness between the two of us which made our interaction that much more valuable.

I highly recommend Rick Crandall to any CEO.  I am confident that he would make a valuable and lasting contribution to the growth and capacity of any chief executive and to the company and board of directors that he or she serves.  This is especially true for a new CEO as they tackle their responsibilities today and challenges tomorrow.

 

Sincerely,

Henry S. Givray
President and CEO

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