ADT Employees Protest ADT CEO

I have two comments to this: one is that I agree with the logic behind his statement, and two is that was one of the worst statements I've heard a CEO publicly make.

Intrusion systems have not evolved much in 30 years outside of communication methods. It's a stale technology, and with the marketing pushed out by ADT to promote a cheap install with high RMR for a cookie cutter system they cut the floor out for independent skilled intrusion companies. ADT was to intrusion what Hikvision was to IPCCTV which high quantity, low quality tactics.

The systems have just streamlinesd into all-in-one lick-and-stick components. The true Brinks used to have technicians that could do amazing fishing to run hardwire components where they actually needed to be to deliver a competent system, but companies like this we're chipped away by lower and lower market acceptable prices. Now it's all about subbing out tickets to guys that can double side sticky some contacts to a door. Where's the skill involved in that?

...did not include the full context of my remarks...

To this point, is there any additional footage available?

The existing clip seems long enough to show that it was more than just an extemporaneous statement, but rather a planned bit in furtherance of his conception. 

Still it would be interesting to see what other tidbits he had to offer.   

It does seem a little like there was some context left off the beginning - it's pretty clear that he's talking about how much more important customer interaction skills are now. He's not saying his daughters are necessarily better at the technical job of installing systems, just that the job has changed and is now nearly as interpersonal as it is technical.

But, there's another big alarm bell with this guy - count the number of first person pronouns. He uses 'I' and 'me' when he means ADT - he could use 'we' and 'us' and not only would it be more clear that he's talking about the company, it would sound like he sees the employees as a team and integral to the company's success.  But, he doesn't see it that way, it's all about him.  Then when he starts talking about customer expectations, he switches sides and continues to use first person singular pronouns in describing customer expectations - sure, switching to third person has negative connotations as well, 'THEY want us to...' but he can call them what they are - 'our customers'. He's just very comfortable talking about himself.

Ah well, guess I should hold my criticism until I'm CEO of a company as large as ADT.

One other theory I have, and it is just theory, I have not spoken to ADT about this but I think the audience and atmosphere may have influenced his take.

This speech was given at the Barnes Buchanan Conference. For those who have never gone, it costs ~$1,500 to attend and it is held at a ~$600 per night hotel (The Breakers). The average income of people who attend this event is easily 5x what an ADT tech makes. While there is no special qualification to attend (outside of being willing to spend the money), it is a room of primarily industry executives and financiers. Maybe he never thought his remarks would make it back to his techs or maybe he does not really feel that way and he was just playing to a crowd of rich people. I don't know.

Give him a break (Tim Whall)! He has already been beat up and heavily bruised by wall street. Remember, the Apollo/ADT IPO was reported as the worse preforming billion dollar IPO in last 10 years. ADT stock price has been in single digits, a fraction of expectations. Apollo and ADT management tried to outsmart wall street by dumping the rotting carcass before became smelly..... bad timing!  He is not in a good mood, so give him a break.

I wonder how the folks at Access Systems Integration based in Eatontown NJ feel about this?  They were just acquired by ADT.  I wonder why IPVM didn't report on ADT's new acquisition.  Too bad for those guys, they are now under the leadership of an ***clown.

If you ever been in the ADT grinder, you would realize that it is not an alarm company, it is a management bonus company. Everything is about numbers ,real and fake, to keep the dollars rolling in.

Been through the ADT system 3 times, all by purchase plan.