Let's make things better

Jan Timmer guided Philips through a deep crisis in the years 1990-1992, helped by Operation Centurion, the strength of a number of old faithful products, the sale of silverware and the revival of the chip market. But then he wasted billions on presidential projects and allowed himself to be charmed by troublemakers. The new top people from outside clashed with the Philips culture. The company got bogged down in strategic indecisiveness. Crown Prince Cor Boonstra viewed the state of affairs with increasing horror. It brought him into a fierce conflict with his predecessor. Marcel Metze managed to penetrate the rooms at the top. Through conversations with former and current top people he was able to arrive at a disturbing description of a company in search of a new course and a new mentality.