The CEO of Harley Davidson is out. Influencer Robby Starbuck explains:
Big News: Harley Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz is officially OUT as CEO less than one year after I exposed @harleydavidson’s woke policies.
Now let me tell you how we got to this moment.
After weeks of my reporting, they ended their crazy DEI policies but kept their woke CEO.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 8, 2025
Press release follows:
MILWAUKEE, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Harley-Davidson, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: HOG) today confirmed that it is engaged in an on-going CEO search process, as part of the Board’s succession planning responsibilities.
The search process was initiated in Q4 2024 with the retention of a leading executive search firm after Jochen Zeitz, the current CEO, expressed his interest in retiring from the Company in 2025 after five years in the CEO position, and subject to the appointment of a suitable successor. Mr. Zeitz will remain as CEO until such successor is identified to ensure an orderly leadership transition.
The Board is grateful to Mr. Zeitz for his many significant contributions to the Company as CEO. These contributions include, but are not limited to, the creation and successful execution of the Hardwire, the Company’s five-year strategic plan (2021-2025), reinvigorating the brand, and his leadership during one of the most challenging operating environments in the history of the Company.
JPKalishek says
One of the Big Wigs at work is an escapee from HD. Still has a bike and wears the jacket, polos etc. but got out of the place.
I’ve not seen him since this, so haven’t had the chance to ask him about it, but I get the feeling he will not shed a tear.
Paul Crowe says
Harley can do better. Let’s hope they do.
hoyt says
HD could always do better.
How much worse was Zeitz than the last qtr century of leaders, including Willie G himself? A time when no new genres of bikes were introduced and when they closed Buell.
The Pan America was first considered for production in 2018. Zeitz started in May ’20. It could be said under his tenure he made sure it got produced, which is big because…
The Pan America still holds the best promise to break the most difficult challenge HD put themselves into…public distrust to produce anything other than the best cruiser around. This bike should be doing much better in sales than it is, but that largely could be because it was a decade late at least, long before Zeitz.
HD’s 2nd biggest challenge:
-the dealers who are unwillingly to get behind anything but cruisers.
MEANWHILE…
this is the amount of leverage HD earned to address both of those challenges so they can thrive as a company in the next century, like Triumph & BMW are doing….
NET INCOME, not revenue of over $5, 510,200,000.00.
That is BILLIONs in CASH between 2001-2007.
2001: Harley-Davidson’s net income was $347 million, marking a 31% increase in profits.
2002: Net income reached $580 million, a 32.5% increase.
2003: Harley-Davidson’s net income reached $760.9 million, a 31.1% increase over the previous year.
2004: The company saw its 19th consecutive year of record revenue and earnings, with a net income of $889.8 million, up 16.9% from 2003.
2005: Harley-Davidson continued its streak, reporting its 20th consecutive year of record revenue and earnings, with net income reaching $959.6 million.
2006: Net income grew to $1.04 billion, an 8.7% increase over 2005.
2007: The company’s net income declined for the first time in many years, falling to $933.8 million.
Do I agree with everything about the methods behind DEI?
No. I’ve seen people get left behind while others get promoted for what amounts to repeating the same sins of the past, but to ignore diversity, equity, and inclusion outright and/or put it at the top of many of HDs problems is really missing the mark. Start with the above pile of money and ask the right questions.
*your post included the DEI post so it’s there for commenting.