经济学人05: 清白先生 Mr Clean

 　　Mr Clean

　　清白先生

　　Ian King wants to transform the way the world's third-biggest defence company does business

　　伊安·金想转变世界第三大军工公司的经营之道

　　ON JUNE 27th last year, just six weeks after Mike Turner, the chief executive of BAE Systems, had been detained on arrival in America in connection with corruption¹ allegations, Ian King was announced as his successor. Mr Turner and another of the firm's directors were not held for long, and many felt that the Department of Justice, which seized their laptops and BlackBerrys, had acted heavy-handedly. But the incident, which stemmed from a long-running investigation² into claims that BAE had lubricated the £43 billion ($70 billion) “al-Yamamah” arms deal with Saudi Arabia with bribes³ to government officials and members of the royal family, was yet another embarrassment⁴ for the world's third-biggest defence company.

　　去年6月27日，就在英国BAE系统公司的首席执行官Mike Turner抵达美国即因牵涉腐败案件而被拘留之后六周，伊安·金被宣布接替他的职务。Turner先生和另一位公司主管并没有被扣押太久，很多人认为，收缴了他们的手提电脑和黑莓手机的司法部出手过重。但这一事件使这个世界第三大军工公司又一次陷入尴尬。这一事件源于一个长期调查，旨在证明BAE向沙特阿拉伯的政府官员和皇室成员行贿，以促成430亿英镑（合700亿美元）的“al-Yamamah”军火交易。

　　In some ways Mr King's appointment was a surprise. Dick Olver, BAE's chairman since 2004, has been on a mission to restore the reputation of a firm that has all too often found itself at the centre of corruption allegations. In 2007 he took the extraordinary step of asking a former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, to lead an independent inquiry⁵ into BAE's ethical⁶ standards. After he pushed Mr Turner into early retirement⁷, it was assumed that Mr Olver would make a clean break with the past by choosing an outsider to carry forward his crusade. Indeed, several Americans were considered for the job (America is the British firm's biggest market). So when Mr King, the only internal candidate, got the nod, some suspected that the British government had used its “golden share” to veto the appointment of a foreigner.

　　从某些方面来说，金先生的任命出人意料。2004年上任的BAE主席Dick Olver一直都肩负着重塑公司声誉的使命，这个公司已过多地陷入腐败案件的中心。2007年他走出了不同寻常的一步，他请来前最高法院首席法官Woolf阁下展开对BAE道德标准的独立调查。在他迫使Turner先生提前退休之后，人们认为Olver先生将与过去做出果断的决裂，选择一位局外人来推动他的改革运动。的确，曾有几个美国人被考虑过担任这项职务（美国是这家英国公司最大的市场）。所以，当金先生，这个唯一的国内候选人，获得首肯的时候，有些人怀疑英国政府投出了它的“金票”来否决一个外国人的任命。

　　BAE executives deny that happened, but the government must have been relieved that the country's dominant⁸ defence contractor⁹ would be run by someone it knew well. Mr King began his career in 1976 as a trainee¹⁰ accountant with Marconi, a defence-electronics subsidiary of Arnold Weinstock's GEC, Britain's biggest industrial conglomerate¹¹. In the late 1990s a wave of consolidation¹² hit the defence industry on both sides of the Atlantic and Marconi Electronic Systems, as it had become, was taken over by British Aerospace¹³ to form BAE Systems.

　　BAE的执行官们否定了这种说法，但英国政府一定为这个国家最重要的军工商由一个它了解的人来管理而感到放心。金先生于1976年在Marconi担任会计实习生，从而开始了他的事业，这是Arnold Weinstock建立的英国最大的工业联合企业GEC的军防电子子公司。1990年代后期，合并浪潮席卷了大西洋两岸的军工业，Marconi成了Marconi电子系统公司，并被英国航空航天公司兼并，成为BAE系统公司。

　　John Weston, the abrasive¹⁴ boss of British Aerospace asked Mr King, who had been finance director at Marconi for several years, to handle strategy for the merged¹⁵ firm. A number of operational roles followed, which ultimately left Mr King running most of the business outside America. Mr King's background at Marconi may well have counted in his favour when it came to appointing a new chief executive. British Aerospace, which did the first al-Yamamah deal in 1985, had a buccaneering culture very different from that of GEC, where, says Mr King, Lord Weinstock always demanded the highest standards of commercial behaviour.

　　粗暴的英国航空航天公司老板John Weston要求担任Marconi财务主管多年的金先生来把握这个合并公司的战略。后续的几个运营管理角色接踵而来，最终让金先生掌握了除美国以外的几乎所有业务。到了任命新的首席执行官的时候，金先生在Marconi公司工作的背景也为他加分。英国航空航天公司在1985年做成第一单al-Yamamah生意，它海盗般的文化和GEC截然不同，金先生说，在GEC，Weinstock阁下一直都以最高的商业行为标准来要求他们。

　　After nearly a decade of steadily¹⁶ growing profits and armed with a strong balance-sheet, BAE is in many ways in good shape. But the next few years are likely to be more testing. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, where the firm has recently completed another multi-year deal to sell and maintain fighter aircraft, BAE's major customers are pulling in their horns. Spiralling government debt in America and Britain means that “wars of choice” are no longer affordable¹⁷ and the search is on for cuts in big procurement¹⁸ programmes. The review recently undertaken by Robert Gates, America's defence secretary, resulted in the cancellation¹⁹ of part of the Future Combat Systems programme, a big army-modernisation project for which BAE is a prominent contractor. In Britain, cuts to an already overstretched defence budget are only being postponed²⁰ until after next year's election.

　　拥有强有力的资产负债表，且保持近十年的利润稳步增长，从很多方面来说，BAE都状况良好。但接下来的几年可能会经受更多考验。除了沙特阿拉伯——BAE刚又跟它签署了一项多年的销售和维护战斗机的协议——之外，BAE的其他客户都在缩减开支。螺旋上升的债务使得美国和英国无力承担“选择之战”，对于大额采购项目缩减方案的搜索行动也开始启动。美国国防部长Roberts Gates最近展开的调查，令美国取消了部分未来战斗系统项目，这个庞大的军队现代化项目最主要的承包商就是BAE。在英国，对已经过于铺张的国防预算的缩减计划被推迟到明年大选之后。

　　Mr King appears unfazed. BAE is less dependent on big “platform” sales than it used to be and now sees itself as a provider of “through-life support” for complex systems, much like the aero-engine industry. He also believes that BAE's strength in army equipment, particularly armoured and mine-resistant vehicles, stands it in good stead for what he calls the “current fight” in places such as Afghanistan. It is all business as usual for an experienced operator like Mr King. What is not, however, is the company's effort to transform the way in which it does business. BAE admits to no wrongdoing over al-Yamamah, which was primarily a deal between governments, it says, nor over any of the other deals that are still under scrutiny²¹ (in 2007, the British government said BAE contracts in six countries were being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office). But BAE has promised not just to implement²² the 23 recommendations made by Lord Woolf in his report, but also to “embed” his ideas in its culture. To that end, Mr King has embarked²³ on a huge training programme to inform all 97,000 BAE employees worldwide of their ethical responsibilities.

　　金先生似乎并不担心。BAE已不再像过去那样依赖大的“平台”销售，它现在更将自己看作是复杂系统的“终身支持”提供商，这很像航空引擎业。他还相信，BAE在军队设备方面的强项，尤其是装甲车和防地雷车，让它在发生在像阿富汗这样地方的他称之为“当前战斗”之中，处于有利地位。对于金先生这样一个经验丰富的管理者来说，这只是日常生意。而不寻常的，是这个公司转变经营方式的努力。BAE不承认在al-Yamamah中有任何过错，他说，这主要是政府之间的生意，它在其他任何仍在接受调查的案件中也没有过错（2007年英国政府指出BAE在六个国家的合同正在接受严重欺诈办公室的调查）。但是，BAE承诺，它不仅将实施Woolf阁下在报告中提出的23项建议，而且还将把他的理念融入公司文化。为了实现这个目的，金先生已经着手开展一个庞大的培训项目，向全球9万7千名BAE员工宣讲他们的道德责任。

　　1-800-MORAL-FIBRE

　　道德品质免费热线

　　Mr King says he wants staff to be able to raise ethical issues in the same way they would an engineering problem—something to be discussed openly. Earlier this year BAE sent a 64-page code of conduct to each of its workers, with detailed²⁴ advice on how to behave in every situation. With the booklet came a small card, to be carried at all times, with a list of toll-free numbers for the firm's “ethics²⁵ helpline”.

　　金先生表示，他希望员工能够提出道德问题，就像他们提出工程技术问题一样，是可以公开讨论的事情。今年早些时候，BAE向它的每个工人发放了一本64页的行为准则，列明了各种情况下应该如何应对的详细建议。这个册子里还夹着一张便于随时携带的小卡片， 上面列有免费电话号码，可以打给公司的“道德帮助热线”。

　　It is easy to scoff²⁶ at the idea of an arms firm preaching ethics, particularly one that is still making money from deals concluded before its squeaky-clean rules were put in place. Nor is an industry veteran, such as Mr King, an obvious new broom. But he has all the fervour of a true convert. “You have to believe in it,” he says. “It's a journey you personally have to make.” Helpfully, a significant part of his own remuneration is, he says, linked to making BAE “a benchmark” for responsible behaviour in the industry. Shareholders²⁷, he claims, are supportive. They have accepted that it is better to lose business in some parts of the world than to expose BAE to reputational risk. As for the Saudis, Mr King says that they too now want to do things differently. And if a rival firm were to offer to do business with them in the “traditional” way? “Then the Saudis will have to make their choice,” he says.

　　要嘲笑一个军火商去鼓吹道德是很容易的，尤其是这个公司在实施它一尘不染的规定之前达成的那些交易还在挣钱的时候。一个身经百战的业内老兵如金先生者也不是一个新官。但他拥有进行真正转变的所有热情。“你必须相信它，”他说，“它是一条你必须亲自踏上的旅途。”有帮助的是，他说，把BAE塑造成业内负责任行为的“标杆”这一目标将与他自己酬劳的很大一部分相关联。他表示，股东们很支持。他们情愿接受在世界某地失去业务，也不愿BAE承受声誉风险。至于沙特人，金先生说，他们现在也想改变行事方法。那么如果一个竞争对手公司提出和他们用“传统”的方式做生意呢？“那么沙特人就必须做出他们的选择，” 他说。

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

4 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

5 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

6 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

9 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

10 trainee   

n.受训练者

参考例句：

• The trainee checked out all right on his first flight.受训者第一次飞行完全合格。
• Few of the trainee footballers make it to the top.足球受训人员中没有几个能达到顶级水平。

11 conglomerate   

n.综合商社，多元化集团公司

参考例句：

• The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。
• An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。

12 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

13 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

14 abrasive   

adj.使表面磨损的；粗糙的；恼人的

参考例句：

• His abrasive manner has won him an unenviable notoriety.他生硬粗暴的态度让他声名狼藉。
• She had abrasions to her wrists where the abrasive rope had scraped her.她的手腕有多出磨伤，那是被粗糙的绳子擦伤的。

15 merged   

（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中

参考例句：

• Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
• The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

16 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

17 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

18 procurement   

n.采购；获得

参考例句：

• He is in charge of the procurement of materials.他负责物资的采购。
• More and more,human food procurement came to have a dominant effect on their evolution.人类获取食物愈来愈显著地影响到人类的进化。

19 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

20 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

21 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

22 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

23 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

24 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

25 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

26 scoff   

n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽

参考例句：

• You are not supposed to scoff at religion.你不该嘲弄宗教。
• He was the scoff of the town.他成为全城的笑柄。

27 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任