One of the best gone!

For thoe of you out there who have worked for Steve Holman, it is a sad day. Steve is officially retired from GSK! A total of 27 years with the company over three mergers, many of those years a manager. He also carried the bag and sold over 60 medicines, from Zofran, to Zantac, to AZT. If you knew him, you knew that family came first and he let you know that in every possible way. If you swayed in any way, he let you know, and wouldn't hesitate to call your spouse to get things back in check. He was a true people person and loved to coach people not only on a professional level, but on a personal level. Reps loved to work for him and it showed. Not only was Steve a multiple tier winner with reps tiering every year, when he didn't tier, he still had reps tier with Winner's Circle.

Unfortunatly, being in NH with downsizing and Steve looking out for others as he has always done, he was down to managing 5 reps. This made it easy for him to be retired out of GSK, and unofrunately not on a high note. No local retirement party (however not surprised), but leaving as a "foundational manager". I heard that he was told "his management style did not fit with GSK any longer". It is too bad that there are not more managers like Steve Holman within GSK. Just imagine where GSK could be with more people like Steve!

So Steve, if you read this farewell and those you have touched over the years, we will miss you!

The last ethical manager leaves GSK. When is GSK going to realize that the "new management style" does not generate increased sales?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

The last ethical manager leaves GSK. When is GSK going to realize that the "new management style" does not generate increased sales?

I know Steve. I never had him as a manager but everyone who did loved him. I can believe that this company moved him out because anything and anyone remotely human is not long for this organization. It IS a sad day. Steve if you are reading this I hope YOU know that you are far from foundational. You can leave with your head so very high becuase you are a kind, funny, honest and nobel man. I wish you the best Steve. Move on to higher places where you will loved and appreciated. Best Wishes!!!!
I just left too and I couldn't be happier!!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

For thoe of you out there who have worked for Steve Holman, it is a sad day. Steve is officially retired from GSK! A total of 27 years with the company over three mergers, many of those years a manager. He also carried the bag and sold over 60 medicines, from Zofran, to Zantac, to AZT. If you knew him, you knew that family came first and he let you know that in every possible way. If you swayed in any way, he let you know, and wouldn't hesitate to call your spouse to get things back in check. He was a true people person and loved to coach people not only on a professional level, but on a personal level. Reps loved to work for him and it showed. Not only was Steve a multiple tier winner with reps tiering every year, when he didn't tier, he still had reps tier with Winner's Circle.

Unfortunatly, being in NH with downsizing and Steve looking out for others as he has always done, he was down to managing 5 reps. This made it easy for him to be retired out of GSK, and unofrunately not on a high note. No local retirement party (however not surprised), but leaving as a "foundational manager". I heard that he was told "his management style did not fit with GSK any longer". It is too bad that there are not more managers like Steve Holman within GSK. Just imagine where GSK could be with more people like Steve!

So Steve, if you read this farewell and those you have touched over the years, we will miss you!

This is so sad when good managers are 'retired' from GSK, and NH in particular. It was very kind of the OP to put this post up, otherwise no-one would have known for months! Who made this, and other asinine decisions to make cuts anyway? The reps that are now left end up wondering what's going to happen next, and GSK suffers because these experienced managers leave. Talking with friends over there, the NH division seems to relish giving itself problems. Regions where these RSD's were retired early this year and have new managers as replacements now have poor morale, and reps are looking to leave simply because the new managers are clueless with customers and not as experienced as the ones that were asked to go. The less they know, the more they have to micromanage. What ever happened to Clark, Ellis and McKnelly to name a few that were retired on the Eastern side?

Steve - thanks for being an example for other managers to follow! Sorry other managers are not following and GSK is going down the tubes. What happened to putting the patient first and promoting health and quality of life? Now I need to go make my twelve calls - ya, right.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I know Steve. I never had him as a manager but everyone who did loved him. I can believe that this company moved him out because anything and anyone remotely human is not long for this organization. It IS a sad day. Steve if you are reading this I hope YOU know that you are far from foundational. You can leave with your head so very high becuase you are a kind, funny, honest and nobel man. I wish you the best Steve. Move on to higher places where you will loved and appreciated. Best Wishes!!!!
I just left too and I couldn't be happier!!

What set Steve Holman apart from most other managers at GSK is that he never forgot what it was like to carry the bag. It's unfortunate that the "new" management style at GSK has taken on the tenor of fear and intimidation. Steve had a lot of success with his reps over the years and he never resorted to this new style of corporate culture to motivate his team. He was encouraging, supportive, and made the job fun. Best of luck Steve--You deserve all the happiness and success you can find.

How ironic. I usually stay away from this site because I usually end up demoralized and negative. Tonight, however, my curiosity got the best of me. I had the pleasure of working for Steve Holman for nearly two years and he is, by far, the best manager anyone in this (or other) industry could ask for. I looked forward to every single work contact with him knowing that I would learn a lot - about the job as well as about myself - and have a ton of fun in the process! Customers loved him. He was genuine and was all about the patient. He stressed that we are guests in offices and that we have to earn trust before anything else could happen.

I will miss Steve tremendously and wish him the best!!

Oh really another manager gone...did he stand up to the illegal and immoral GSK Marketing schemes? If he was around since 1995- 2008 it is apparent that he did not. Unless you play the GSK games as a manager you do not stick around-he would hve been gone long ago. Only the participating criminal DM's remained this long. I would love to see some of his reps call reports. Most people, managers or not, were out by the year 2003- 2004 at the latest. He had to be in on the filthy tactics with most of the GSK products. Nice guy maybe-GSK crook, had to be. Sorry. Does not pass the smell test. If he had any kahunas he would relate all GSK marketing crimes to the Federal Authorities. No, he will fade away. GUILTY.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Oh really another manager gone...did he stand up to the illegal and immoral GSK Marketing schemes? If he was around since 1995- 2008 it is apparent that he did not. Unless you play the GSK games as a manager you do not stick around-he would hve been gone long ago. Only the participating criminal DM's remained this long. I would love to see some of his reps call reports. Most people, managers or not, were out by the year 2003- 2004 at the latest. He had to be in on the filthy tactics with most of the GSK products. Nice guy maybe-GSK crook, had to be. Sorry. Does not pass the smell test. If he had any kahunas he would relate all GSK marketing crimes to the Federal Authorities. No, he will fade away. GUILTY.

Several nice managers out here. Just takes awhile to get them fired. It's much easier to fire reps then managers. It use to be that RVP's were removed from managers due to travel and their resposibilities. Fast foward to todays market and RVPs are much more hands on. Historically we had an RVP who protected his managers and reps. Everyone loved him. But soon he was encouraged to leave and now we have Hitler. Micromanages his managers and reps. It's survival of the fittest out here and to your point many of the managers are not to be trusted. It's sad. I don't think steve was one of those. I do think it just took a while to push him out.

Absolutely one of the best, I only worked with him a short time but it was the best. Always mutual respect, always positive and motivating, always a sense of humor. After he left I got stuck with 2 30 year olds with nothing to offer (1 no longer with the company, 1 transferred away with lots of HR/legal issues to deal with). Good luck Steve, you deserve far better than what this company has become and I am proud to have known and worked with you!

Steve,
Hope you are logged on and getting this message. We partied together along with a whole bunch of great folks up in Seattle and I truly enjoyed your attitude, outlook on life and positive insights. Good luck to you and your family. Hope your brother is doing great in his retirement from GSK as well. As for those of us left behind, we are envious. God bless and my heaven shine its ever loving light on you.

Steve was as good as it got not just at GSK but in the industry! Although I never had the luxury of working for him, I know he was always the most popular manager to work for in the region. He was the very last of good GSK managers in the area. He always had his reps best interest first which is something you never see anymore. He was funny, positive, ethical and was always a joy to be around. Good luck Steve. I know that you will have more fun than ever in your future endeavors.

I had the opportunity to work for Steve. He was fair, ethical, teamplayer, realistic and made sure we kept the focus on the patient. He wanted us to respect the office staff and bring in value on each call. He was never above us, but part of us. At one time I wanted to move into management. Thanks to GSK and the way they treat management, and get rid of the leaders - no way! As most of us, I'm looking for opportunities else where. Good luck to everyone at GSK and congants to you that are already gone.