A nice little story came out a couple of weeks ago but hasn't gotten much press, what with stimulus packages and "bad banks" and Jessica Simpson's alleged weight gain. Richard Branson, eccentric billionaire and founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways, is reaching out to Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways Group (NYSE: LCC) Flight 1549, in hopes of putting the hero on the Virgin payroll.
Branson told a New York Daily News reporter, "We'll make him the best-paid pilot at Virgin -- we'll give him double [the salary of] anybody else. He also can become one of the astronauts in my intergalactic spaceship company. The man can write his own ticket with me ..." In response, a flattered "Sully" said he is weighing his options, which recently included a cover shot on People magazine.
One has to ask here -- what is the price of securing such an employee? Sure, Branson has the cash to go around, but how would other Virgin employees react to the knowledge of the new guy earning a 100% salary premium? And is adding a 58-year-old pilot to the fleet the best long-term investment?
Whatever "Sully's" next move -- book deal, retirement, business-as-usual, or an outer-space job with Branson -- he deserves every bit of commendation he's received. And he's already demonstrated that he is fully capable of choosing his moves wisely.
Beth Gaston Moon works for WeSeed.com. The above comments are not intended as trading or investment advice.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-16-2009 @ 11:07AM
linda said...
You can't put a price tag on a Hero Branson.....
Besides his ours we don't want him flying the union Jack...
2-16-2009 @ 11:07AM
Chris said...
Stay in America
2-16-2009 @ 8:12PM
Hoxsie said...
Sully would never have to fly a plane for his pay check -- unless he wanted to! SIR RICHARD has a thing for bigger than life characters, and Capt. Sully fits the bill. Hope he goes for it.