{"data":{"id":16626,"title":"KAIZEN: Pushing Metal","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/16626-KAIZEN-Pushing-Metal","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16626","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16626","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":389,"name":"KaizenLogoFL3.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/06567oxyhksh9r\/source\/KaizenLogoFL3.jpg","alt":"","size":946019,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-19T05:23:18+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/389","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/389\/similar"},{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"START TRANSMISSION:\nWelcome to Kaizen. I\u2019m Aaron Schere, and I\u2019m here to help you set a course to financial solvency.\n\nToday\u2019s show focuses exclusively on the aerospace sector, beginning with Drake Interplanetary. For years, the popular spaceship manufacturer courted controversy without their stock price suffering. Investors remained bullish on the brand thanks to strong sales and positive consumer sentiment. That changed last year following a damning expos\u00e9 by the Terra Gazette that featured audio of Drake\u2019s longtime CEO, Jan Dredge, claiming that the company had no responsibility to ensure their ships didn\u2019t end up in outlaw hands.\n\nDredge\u2019s comments were quickly condemned. In the scandal\u2019s wake, Jan Dredge stepped down, citing a desire to spend more time with her family, but a flurry of negative press and the company\u2019s sinking stock price were believed to be the real factors in this decision. Drake\u2019s board of directors elected her son, Jon Dredge, to be interim CEO. As his temporary appointment stretched from weeks into months, some investors wondered whether the \u2018interim\u2019 title still applied.\n\nAt a contentious shareholders meeting late last year, Jon Dredge assured investors that he had no intentions of remaining in the position. He claimed the board of directors had compiled a shortlist of potential CEOs and that the interview process would begin shortly. Early this year, Drake called a press conference in Odyssa to reveal Anden Arden as their new CEO. A veteran aerospace industry executive, Arden has a reputation as a \u2018fixer\u2019. Although he led several companies through difficult transitions, he didn\u2019t stick with them long term. His hiring sparked a debate among investors as to whether Arden was hired to usher in a new era at Drake Interplanetary, or to merely mend the current situation.\n\nNow, Anden Arden joins us to share his vision for Drake, and how the release of the first ship under his leadership, the Vulture, fits into those plans.\n\nAaron Schere (AS): Welcome back to Kaizen.\n\nAnden Arden (AA): Always a pleasure to chat with you, Aaron. Thanks for giving me the chance to discuss the future of Drake Interplanetary.\nAS: Congratulations on the new position.\n\nAA: Thank you. It\u2019s both an honor and a great responsibility. The Dredge family did something truly incredible over the last century. Their commitment to providing affordable and accessible spacecraft for the working people of the UEE has been truly inspiring. It\u2019s funny, my dad and uncle started their first hauling business with an old Cutlass.\nAS: There\u2019s no denying that Drake has had a tumultuous year and is dealing with pressing problems on a number of fronts. As the new CEO, what\u2019s at the top of your to-do list?\n\nAA: Well, Aaron, first and foremost I want to continue the same vision of inclusiveness that Jan Dredge brought to the company throughout her years of service. To bring that same passion and dedication so Drake\u2019s second century will be just as strong and memorable as its first.\nWhen I look at Drake\u2019s current situation, I don\u2019t see problems. I see opportunities. I made it abundantly clear to the board of directors that my focus would be to steer the company into its strengths.\nAS: In your opinion, what are those strengths?\n\nAA: Like I said before, Drake has a knack for creating affordable and durable ships. Yet, it\u2019s the hardworking men and women that crisscross the Empire flying those ships that are my main concern. Without them, we\u2019re just pushing metal.\nThat\u2019s why my first goal as CEO is to remind everyone that Drake has always been about the people. I will focus the company on manufacturing ships that are reliable, affordable, and empowering. It\u2019s why the Vulture was the first ship released under my watch. It ticks all those boxes.\nIn my opinion, the Vulture is the ideal Drake ship. It\u2019s a practical, one-person salvage ship that empowers the operator to be their own boss. The perfect example of what happens when you combine technological innovation and Human ambition. Building ships that hit that sweet spot is a Drake specialty, and something I intend to continue.\nAS: That\u2019s a nice plug for the ship, but how much say did you have in its development and release?\n\nAA: Quite a lot, actually.\nAS: There\u2019s no denying that ship development is a long and arduous process. There were rumors that Jon Dredge had decided to ramp up production on a salvage ship long before you entered the picture. I guess I\u2019m wondering about your specific involvement in bringing this ship to market?\n\nAA: When negotiations began to bring me onboard as CEO, the first thing I did was look at their upcoming slate of ships. I needed to see that the company as a whole was committed to getting back to their roots. Thankfully, the Vulture was not only the closest ship to being released, it also embodied many of the core principles of empowerment and independence that I wanted to focus on.\nI pushed the teams to have the ship released as soon as possible. That way, when I did the news circuit to discuss my new position, I could back up my words with actions and point to a ship that symbolized what I believed was the future of the company.\nAS: Were you surprised when you landed the job?\n\nAA: Not at all. From very early on in the process, the directors made it abundantly clear that they were serious about hiring me. I believed them, and now we\u2019re here.\nAS: I ask because there were rumors that both Jan and Jon Dredge opposed your appointment.\n\nAA: In my experience, it\u2019s best not to pay attention to rumors. You sleep better.\nAS: They specifically cited your handling of Waldvol Aerospace; a small specialty ship manufacturer that you were hired to run after the original CEO was indicted on embezzlement charges. They claim that under your leadership, the patents and intellectual property of Waldvol were sold off to the highest bidder until the company was absorbed by ArcCorp and dissolved. You and the remaining board were reported to have received a healthy payout while the other employees were terminated with nothing.\n\nAA: Look, I\u2019m still bound by several NDAs from talking about the particulars of Waldvol, but I\u2019ll just say that every avenue was taken to save the company. Am I upset about how it turned out? Yes. The people in that company did not deserve to be betrayed like that. By the time I came in, the damage had been done.\nAS: So, you don\u2019t believe that the damage to Drake\u2019s reputation is of a similar level of magnitude?\n\nAA: Definitely not. Like I said earlier, Drake ships have always had a place in my heart, so I want to make sure that we navigate out of the tricky waters caused by this scandal. I\u2019m interested in taking Drake Interplanetary into the future while keeping the company connected to the people who brought it this far. By hiring me, the board of directors signaled their confidence in me to deliver on that promise.\nAS: Does your appointment mean that Drake will try harder to keep their ships out of outlaw hands?\n\nAA: Just like Drake\u2019s previous CEOs, my goal is to make ships that people want. Unfortunately, some people use our ships in ways that were never intended, and we strongly condemn anyone who does so. It has always struck me as interesting that the same dependability, versatility, and ruggedness that makes Drake the choice of so many pilots, small business owners, and militia also makes us popular with others who sometimes stand counter to the principles of the UEE and her people.\nThat\u2019s why one of my first directives was to institute a policy that all sales associates attend a mandatory training session every year that reviews our company policy alongside local and Empire-wide law. While we can\u2019t intervene once a ship leaves our showroom floor, Drake is dedicated to doing everything it can to ensure our sales follow the letter of the law.\nAS: We need to take a quick commercial break, but there\u2019s more to come with the new Drake Interplanetary CEO. Plus, I\u2019ll have a Market Breakdown on how a disrupted supply chain has affected the production outlook for both J-Span and Lightning Power Ltd.\n\nThat and more when Kaizen return.","de_DE":"\u00dcBERTRAGUNG STARTEN:\nWillkommen in Kaizen. Ich bin Aaron Schere, und ich bin hier, um Ihnen zu helfen, einen Kurs auf die finanzielle Solvenz zu setzen.\n\nDie heutige Show konzentriert sich ausschlie\u00dflich auf den Luft- und Raumfahrtsektor, beginnend mit Drake Interplanetary. Jahrelang warb der beliebte Raumschiffhersteller um Kontroversen, ohne dass sein Aktienkurs darunter litt. Die Anleger verharrten dank starker Verk\u00e4ufe und einer positiven Konsumentenstimmung weiterhin optimistisch auf der Marke. Das \u00e4nderte sich im vergangenen Jahr nach einem vernichtenden Expos\u00e9 der Terra Gazette, in dem Audio von Drakes langj\u00e4hrigem CEO Jan Dredge zu h\u00f6ren war, und behauptete, dass das Unternehmen keine Verantwortung daf\u00fcr habe, sicherzustellen, dass ihre Schiffe nicht in verbotene H\u00e4nde geraten.\n\nDie Kommentare von Dredge wurden schnell verurteilt. Im Zuge des Skandals trat Jan Dredge zur\u00fcck und zitierte den Wunsch, mehr Zeit mit ihrer Familie zu verbringen, aber eine Flut von negativen Medien und der sinkende Aktienkurs des Unternehmens galten als die wirklichen Faktoren f\u00fcr diese Entscheidung. Drakes Vorstand w\u00e4hlte ihren Sohn Jon Dredge zum Interims-CEO. Als sich seine befristete Anstellung von Wochen auf Monate erstreckte, fragten sich einige Investoren, ob der \"vorl\u00e4ufige\" Titel noch galt.\n\nAuf einer umstrittenen Hauptversammlung Ende letzten Jahres versicherte Jon Dredge den Investoren, dass er nicht die Absicht habe, in der Position zu bleiben. Er behauptete, der Vorstand habe eine Auswahlliste potenzieller CEOs zusammengestellt und der Interviewprozess w\u00fcrde in K\u00fcrze beginnen. Anfang dieses Jahres berief Drake eine Pressekonferenz in Odyssa ein, um Anden Arden als neuen CEO zu pr\u00e4sentieren. Arden ist ein erfahrener Manager der Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie und genie\u00dft den Ruf eines \"Fixierers\". Obwohl er mehrere Unternehmen durch schwierige \u00dcberg\u00e4nge f\u00fchrte, hielt er sich nicht langfristig an sie. Seine Einstellung l\u00f6ste eine Debatte unter den Investoren aus, ob Arden eingestellt wurde, um eine neue \u00c4ra bei Drake Interplanetary einzuleiten oder nur, um die aktuelle Situation zu verbessern.\n\nNun schlie\u00dft sich Anden Arden uns an, um seine Vision f\u00fcr Drake zu teilen, und wie die Freigabe des ersten Schiffes unter seiner F\u00fchrung, der Vulture, in diese Pl\u00e4ne passt.\n\nAaron Schere (AS): Willkommen zur\u00fcck in Kaizen.\n\nAnden Arden (AA): Es ist immer ein Vergn\u00fcgen, mit dir zu plaudern, Aaron. Danke, dass du mir die M\u00f6glichkeit gegeben hast, \u00fcber die Zukunft von Drake Interplanetary zu diskutieren.\nA: Herzlichen Gl\u00fcckwunsch zur neuen Position.\n\nAA: Danke. Es ist sowohl eine Ehre als auch eine gro\u00dfe Verantwortung. Die Familie Dredge hat im letzten Jahrhundert etwas wirklich Unglaubliches getan. Ihr Engagement f\u00fcr die Bereitstellung erschwinglicher und zug\u00e4nglicher Raumfahrzeuge f\u00fcr die Werkt\u00e4tigen der UEE war wirklich inspirierend. Es ist lustig, mein Vater und mein Onkel begannen ihr erstes Transportunternehmen mit einem alten Entermesser.\nA: Es ist unbestreitbar, dass Drake ein turbulentes Jahr hinter sich hat und an mehreren Fronten mit dringenden Problemen zu k\u00e4mpfen hat. Was steht als neuer CEO ganz oben auf Ihrer To-Do-Liste?\n\nAA: Nun, Aaron, in erster Linie m\u00f6chte ich die gleiche Vision der Integration fortsetzen, die Jan Dredge w\u00e4hrend ihrer langj\u00e4hrigen T\u00e4tigkeit in das Unternehmen eingebracht hat. Die gleiche Leidenschaft und Hingabe wie Drakes zweites Jahrhundert zu bringen, wird genauso stark und unvergesslich sein wie das erste.\nWenn ich mir Drakes aktuelle Situation ansehe, sehe ich keine Probleme. Ich sehe M\u00f6glichkeiten. Ich habe dem Vorstand unmissverst\u00e4ndlich klargestellt, dass mein Fokus darauf liegen wird, das Unternehmen in seine St\u00e4rken zu f\u00fchren.\nA: Was sind Ihrer Meinung nach diese St\u00e4rken?\n\nAA: Wie ich bereits sagte, hat Drake ein H\u00e4ndchen daf\u00fcr, erschwingliche und langlebige Schiffe zu bauen. Doch es sind die flei\u00dfigen M\u00e4nner und Frauen, die das Imperium durchqueren und die Schiffe fliegen, die mein Hauptanliegen sind. Ohne sie dr\u00fccken wir nur Metall.\nDeshalb ist es mein erstes Ziel als CEO, alle daran zu erinnern, dass es bei Drake immer um die Menschen ging. Ich werde das Unternehmen auf die Herstellung von Schiffen konzentrieren, die zuverl\u00e4ssig, erschwinglich und leistungsf\u00e4hig sind. Deshalb war die Vulture das erste Schiff, das unter meiner Aufsicht freigelassen wurde. Es tickt auf alle diese Kisten.\nMeiner Meinung nach ist die Vulture das ideale Drake-Schiff. Es ist ein praktisches Ein-Mann-Rettungsschiff, das es dem Betreiber erm\u00f6glicht, sein eigener Chef zu sein. Das perfekte Beispiel daf\u00fcr, was passiert, wenn man technologische Innovation und menschliche Ambitionen kombiniert. Schiffe zu bauen, die diesen Punkt erreichen, ist eine Drake-Spezialit\u00e4t, und ich beabsichtige, sie fortzusetzen.\nA: Das ist ein sch\u00f6ner Stecker f\u00fcr das Schiff, aber wie viel Einfluss hattest du auf die Entwicklung und Ver\u00f6ffentlichung?\n\nAA: Eigentlich ziemlich viel.\nAS: Es ist unbestreitbar, dass die Entwicklung von Schiffen ein langer und m\u00fchsamer Prozess ist. Es gab Ger\u00fcchte, dass Jon Dredge beschlossen hatte, die Produktion auf einem Bergungsschiff zu erh\u00f6hen, lange bevor Sie das Bild betraten. Ich sch\u00e4tze, ich wundere mich \u00fcber Ihre spezifische Beteiligung daran, dieses Schiff auf den Markt zu bringen?\n\nAA: Als die Verhandlungen begannen, mich als CEO an Bord zu holen, war das erste, was ich tat, ein Blick auf die kommenden Schiffe. Ich musste sehen, dass sich das Unternehmen als Ganzes daf\u00fcr einsetzt, zu seinen Wurzeln zur\u00fcckzukehren. Gl\u00fccklicherweise war der Geier nicht nur das Schiff, das der Befreiung am n\u00e4chsten war, sondern er verk\u00f6rpert auch viele der Grundprinzipien der Erm\u00e4chtigung und Unabh\u00e4ngigkeit, auf die ich mich konzentrieren wollte.\nIch dr\u00e4ngte die Teams, das Schiff so schnell wie m\u00f6glich freizugeben. Auf diese Weise, als ich den Nachrichtenkreislauf machte, um \u00fcber meine neue Position zu diskutieren, konnte ich meine Worte mit Taten untermauern und auf ein Schiff zeigen, das symbolisierte, was ich f\u00fcr die Zukunft des Unternehmens hielt.\nA: Warst du \u00fcberrascht, als du den Job bekommen hast?\n\nAA: \u00dcberhaupt nicht. Schon sehr fr\u00fch im Prozess machten die Direktoren deutlich, dass sie es ernst meinen mit der Einstellung von mir. Ich glaubte ihnen, und jetzt sind wir hier.\nAS: Ich frage, weil es Ger\u00fcchte gab, dass sowohl Jan als auch Jon Dredge gegen deinen Termin waren.\n\nAA: Nach meiner Erfahrung ist es am besten, Ger\u00fcchten keine Beachtung zu schenken. Du schl\u00e4fst besser.\nAS: Sie haben ausdr\u00fccklich auf Ihre Handhabung von Waldvol Aerospace hingewiesen; einem kleinen Spezialschiffhersteller, f\u00fcr den Sie angeheuert wurden, nachdem der urspr\u00fcngliche CEO wegen Unterschlagung angeklagt wurde. Sie behaupten, dass unter Ihrer F\u00fchrung die Patente und das geistige Eigentum von Waldvol an den H\u00f6chstbietenden verkauft wurden, bis das Unternehmen von ArcCorp \u00fcbernommen und aufgel\u00f6st wurde. Es wurde berichtet, dass Sie und der verbleibende Vorstand eine gesunde Auszahlung erhalten haben, w\u00e4hrend die anderen Mitarbeiter mit nichts gek\u00fcndigt wurden.\n\nAA: Schauen Sie, ich bin immer noch an mehrere NDAs gebunden, die \u00fcber die Einzelheiten von Waldvol sprechen, aber ich m\u00f6chte nur sagen, dass alle M\u00f6glichkeiten genutzt wurden, um das Unternehmen zu retten. Bin ich ver\u00e4rgert dar\u00fcber, wie es ausgegangen ist? Ja. Die Leute in dieser Firma haben es nicht verdient, so verraten zu werden. Als ich hereinkam, war der Schaden bereits angerichtet.\nA: Sie glauben also nicht, dass der Schaden f\u00fcr Drakes Ruf von \u00e4hnlicher Gr\u00f6\u00dfenordnung ist?\n\nAA: Definitiv nicht. Wie ich bereits sagte, hatten die Drake-Schiffe schon immer einen Platz in meinem Herzen, und deshalb m\u00f6chte ich sicherstellen, dass wir aus den heiklen Gew\u00e4ssern, die durch diesen Skandal verursacht wurden, herauskommen. Ich bin daran interessiert, Drake Interplanetary in die Zukunft zu f\u00fchren und gleichzeitig die Firma mit den Leuten in Verbindung zu halten, die es so weit gebracht haben. Mit der Einstellung von mir signalisierte der Vorstand sein Vertrauen in mich, dieses Versprechen zu erf\u00fcllen.\nA: Bedeutet Ihre Ernennung, dass Drake sich mehr anstrengen wird, ihre Schiffe aus den H\u00e4nden von Banditen zu halten?\n\nAA: Genau wie die fr\u00fcheren CEOs von Drake ist es mein Ziel, Schiffe zu bauen, die die Menschen wollen. Leider benutzen einige Leute unsere Schiffe in einer Weise, die nie beabsichtigt war, und wir verurteilen jeden, der dies tut, aufs Sch\u00e4rfste. Es hat mich immer interessant gefunden, dass die gleiche Zuverl\u00e4ssigkeit, Vielseitigkeit und Robustheit, die Drake zur Wahl von so vielen Piloten, Kleinunternehmern und Milizen macht, uns auch bei anderen beliebt macht, die manchmal gegen die Prinzipien der UEE und ihrer Leute stehen.\nDeshalb war eine meiner ersten Richtlinien, eine Richtlinie einzuf\u00fchren, dass alle Vertriebsmitarbeiter jedes Jahr an einer obligatorischen Schulung teilnehmen, die unsere Unternehmensrichtlinien neben dem lokalen und empireweiten Recht \u00fcberpr\u00fcft. Obwohl wir nicht eingreifen k\u00f6nnen, sobald ein Schiff unseren Ausstellungsraum verl\u00e4sst, widmet sich Drake alles, was es kann, um sicherzustellen, dass unsere Verk\u00e4ufe den gesetzlichen Vorschriften entsprechen.\nA: Wir m\u00fcssen eine kurze Werbepause einlegen, aber mit dem neuen Drake Interplanetary CEO wird noch mehr kommen. Au\u00dferdem werde ich eine Marktanalyse dar\u00fcber haben, wie sich eine gest\u00f6rte Lieferkette auf die Produktionsaussichten von J-Span und Lightning Power Ltd. ausgewirkt hat.\n\nDas und mehr, wenn Kaizen zur\u00fcckkehren.","zh_CN":"START TRANSMISSION:\nWelcome to Kaizen. I\u2019m Aaron Schere, and I\u2019m here to help you set a course to financial solvency.\n\nToday\u2019s show focuses exclusively on the aerospace sector, beginning with Drake Interplanetary. For years, the popular spaceship manufacturer courted controversy without their stock price suffering. Investors remained bullish on the brand thanks to strong sales and positive consumer sentiment. That changed last year following a damning expos\u00e9 by the Terra Gazette that featured audio of Drake\u2019s longtime CEO, Jan Dredge, claiming that the company had no responsibility to ensure their ships didn\u2019t end up in outlaw hands.\n\nDredge\u2019s comments were quickly condemned. In the scandal\u2019s wake, Jan Dredge stepped down, citing a desire to spend more time with her family, but a flurry of negative press and the company\u2019s sinking stock price were believed to be the real factors in this decision. Drake\u2019s board of directors elected her son, Jon Dredge, to be interim CEO. As his temporary appointment stretched from weeks into months, some investors wondered whether the \u2018interim\u2019 title still applied.\n\nAt a contentious shareholders meeting late last year, Jon Dredge assured investors that he had no intentions of remaining in the position. He claimed the board of directors had compiled a shortlist of potential CEOs and that the interview process would begin shortly. Early this year, Drake called a press conference in Odyssa to reveal Anden Arden as their new CEO. A veteran aerospace industry executive, Arden has a reputation as a \u2018fixer\u2019. Although he led several companies through difficult transitions, he didn\u2019t stick with them long term. His hiring sparked a debate among investors as to whether Arden was hired to usher in a new era at Drake Interplanetary, or to merely mend the current situation.\n\nNow, Anden Arden joins us to share his vision for Drake, and how the release of the first ship under his leadership, the Vulture, fits into those plans.\n\nAaron Schere (AS): Welcome back to Kaizen.\n\nAnden Arden (AA): Always a pleasure to chat with you, Aaron. Thanks for giving me the chance to discuss the future of Drake Interplanetary.\nAS: Congratulations on the new position.\n\nAA: Thank you. It\u2019s both an honor and a great responsibility. The Dredge family did something truly incredible over the last century. Their commitment to providing affordable and accessible spacecraft for the working people of the UEE has been truly inspiring. It\u2019s funny, my dad and uncle started their first hauling business with an old Cutlass.\nAS: There\u2019s no denying that Drake has had a tumultuous year and is dealing with pressing problems on a number of fronts. As the new CEO, what\u2019s at the top of your to-do list?\n\nAA: Well, Aaron, first and foremost I want to continue the same vision of inclusiveness that Jan Dredge brought to the company throughout her years of service. To bring that same passion and dedication so Drake\u2019s second century will be just as strong and memorable as its first.\nWhen I look at Drake\u2019s current situation, I don\u2019t see problems. I see opportunities. I made it abundantly clear to the board of directors that my focus would be to steer the company into its strengths.\nAS: In your opinion, what are those strengths?\n\nAA: Like I said before, Drake has a knack for creating affordable and durable ships. Yet, it\u2019s the hardworking men and women that crisscross the Empire flying those ships that are my main concern. Without them, we\u2019re just pushing metal.\nThat\u2019s why my first goal as CEO is to remind everyone that Drake has always been about the people. I will focus the company on manufacturing ships that are reliable, affordable, and empowering. It\u2019s why the Vulture was the first ship released under my watch. It ticks all those boxes.\nIn my opinion, the Vulture is the ideal Drake ship. It\u2019s a practical, one-person salvage ship that empowers the operator to be their own boss. The perfect example of what happens when you combine technological innovation and Human ambition. Building ships that hit that sweet spot is a Drake specialty, and something I intend to continue.\nAS: That\u2019s a nice plug for the ship, but how much say did you have in its development and release?\n\nAA: Quite a lot, actually.\nAS: There\u2019s no denying that ship development is a long and arduous process. There were rumors that Jon Dredge had decided to ramp up production on a salvage ship long before you entered the picture. I guess I\u2019m wondering about your specific involvement in bringing this ship to market?\n\nAA: When negotiations began to bring me onboard as CEO, the first thing I did was look at their upcoming slate of ships. I needed to see that the company as a whole was committed to getting back to their roots. Thankfully, the Vulture was not only the closest ship to being released, it also embodied many of the core principles of empowerment and independence that I wanted to focus on.\nI pushed the teams to have the ship released as soon as possible. That way, when I did the news circuit to discuss my new position, I could back up my words with actions and point to a ship that symbolized what I believed was the future of the company.\nAS: Were you surprised when you landed the job?\n\nAA: Not at all. From very early on in the process, the directors made it abundantly clear that they were serious about hiring me. I believed them, and now we\u2019re here.\nAS: I ask because there were rumors that both Jan and Jon Dredge opposed your appointment.\n\nAA: In my experience, it\u2019s best not to pay attention to rumors. You sleep better.\nAS: They specifically cited your handling of Waldvol Aerospace; a small specialty ship manufacturer that you were hired to run after the original CEO was indicted on embezzlement charges. They claim that under your leadership, the patents and intellectual property of Waldvol were sold off to the highest bidder until the company was absorbed by ArcCorp and dissolved. You and the remaining board were reported to have received a healthy payout while the other employees were terminated with nothing.\n\nAA: Look, I\u2019m still bound by several NDAs from talking about the particulars of Waldvol, but I\u2019ll just say that every avenue was taken to save the company. Am I upset about how it turned out? Yes. The people in that company did not deserve to be betrayed like that. By the time I came in, the damage had been done.\nAS: So, you don\u2019t believe that the damage to Drake\u2019s reputation is of a similar level of magnitude?\n\nAA: Definitely not. Like I said earlier, Drake ships have always had a place in my heart, so I want to make sure that we navigate out of the tricky waters caused by this scandal. I\u2019m interested in taking Drake Interplanetary into the future while keeping the company connected to the people who brought it this far. By hiring me, the board of directors signaled their confidence in me to deliver on that promise.\nAS: Does your appointment mean that Drake will try harder to keep their ships out of outlaw hands?\n\nAA: Just like Drake\u2019s previous CEOs, my goal is to make ships that people want. Unfortunately, some people use our ships in ways that were never intended, and we strongly condemn anyone who does so. It has always struck me as interesting that the same dependability, versatility, and ruggedness that makes Drake the choice of so many pilots, small business owners, and militia also makes us popular with others who sometimes stand counter to the principles of the UEE and her people.\nThat\u2019s why one of my first directives was to institute a policy that all sales associates attend a mandatory training session every year that reviews our company policy alongside local and Empire-wide law. While we can\u2019t intervene once a ship leaves our showroom floor, Drake is dedicated to doing everything it can to ensure our sales follow the letter of the law.\nAS: We need to take a quick commercial break, but there\u2019s more to come with the new Drake Interplanetary CEO. Plus, I\u2019ll have a Market Breakdown on how a disrupted supply chain has affected the production outlook for both J-Span and Lightning Power Ltd.\n\nThat and more when Kaizen return."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":40,"created_at":"2018-06-20T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"7 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 23:10:51","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16625,"next_id":16627}}