Exposure

Book excerpt: When Michael Woodford was made president of Olympus, he became the first Westerner ever to climb to the top of one of Japan’s corporate giants. Unfortunately, soon after, his dream job turned into a nightmare. Woodford learned about a series of bizarre mergers and acquisitions deals totaling $1.7 billion—a scandal that threatened to bring down the entire company if exposed. Just weeks later, he was fired in a boardroom coup that shocked Japan and the business world. Woodford fled the country in fear for his life and went straight to the press—making him the first CEO of a global multinational to blow the whistle on his own company. Now Woodford recounts his almost unbelievable true story and paints a devastating portrait of corporate Japan. “His story is filled with mystery, suspense, and betrayal.” —Management Today “A gripping chronicle.” —Kirkus Reviews “I had walked into a John Grisham novel.” —Michael Woodford