CA Inc. (NYSE: CA), the software company formerly known as Computer Associates, last week began to speak out against founder Charles Wang about two years too late.
Under Wang's leadership, Computer Associates developed a reputation for accounting shenanigans, shoddy customer service and obscenely high executive compensation, which is why a special board committee urged CA to try and recoup some of Wang's pay. The company should take the advice.
Wang, who also owns the New York Islanders, has denied any wrongdoing. The New York Times reported that he blames CA's problems on his successor Sanjay Kumar, one of many company executives who pled guilty to securities fraud following a federal investigation.
Considering how close the two men were and Wang's autocratic management style, Wang's denials are hard to believe. If this fight goes to court, this will get nasty very quickly. CA has tried for years to undo the damage done by Wang and his associates. The New York Times pointed that the company has had to spend $500 million on fines ad internal investigations.