I was reading Bruce’s funny but sad commentary on the TSA decision to confiscate a geologist’s pet rock. That reminded me of the old days when Russian youth idolized American freedom and Rock and Roll (I know, loose connection). But a few minutes later I found out from NBC News that a famous American business-man and musician is in the midst of a fight in Russia over vacuum tube manufacturing:
Sensing business opportunity and a way to save classic rock and roll sounds from extinction, he bought ExpoPUL in 1999.
“All the companies that made vacuum tubes in the West had closed,� Matthews said. “It’s an archaic business. It’s a niche business.�
In seven years, Matthews quadrupled production and more than doubled the workforce at ExpoPUL. Today the factory supplies more than two-thirds of the world’s tubes used for music, sold to music giants like Fender, Peavey and Korg.
But it gets even stranger as ExpoPUL is now suffering from hostile takeover and business disruption attempts by local developers:
“They’ve used jackhammers to stir up dust in the facility,� Matthews said. “They shut down the elevator where we remove toxic waste. And they illegally turned off the electricity.�
[…]
ExpoPUL’s director, Vladimir Chinchikov, says the tactics are typical of some Russian businesses, which pay off government officials and judges to help them “steal� companies by employing heavy-handed methods.
“It’s corruption, plain and simple,� Chinchikov said. “They want us to vacate the building. We hear they want to build some kind of entertainment complex. They are not interested in the production line.�
[…]
Matthews is preparing for battle. He has ordered a $100,000 transformer and an independent natural gas supply to prevent further interference from Russian raiders. And he has rallied his music industry friends and clients to turn up the volume of protests. Fender, Peavey and Korg have written to the Russian government while U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns and Saratov’s governor have pledged their help.
I would expect a few rock stars to join the fight, and perhaps even hold a concert fundraiser. Yet I’m surprised to hear the US Ambassador is getting involved. Add that to your list of things to consider in global business continuity needs…