termination of David Merrill

This is the subject on which you and I have exchanged calls/e-mails. It will
likely come as a great shock to David, so I want your thoughts/input on how
to handle. For example, getting this type of news by phone would be tough.
Do I need to go to Singapore, or does HR have someone in Singapore who can
deliver the message directly/face-to-face. The reasons for termination are
as follows:

1 out of his depth on technical side of EBS;

2 Has been found to be deficient in some meetings in which he has
participated with commercial team, e.g., has begun to explain, or interrupted
explanations of others, and then been unable to complete explanation
(probably due to weaknesses in item 1, above), but, in any event, makes for
less than wholly satisfacotry meeting from commercial perspective (per Bill
White, EBS Asia bandwidth trader);

3 Has been found sorely wanting in terms of being a good team player, taking
credit for work of others, being patronising, and too easily asking for
assistance from others (including me) when he could do his own research
(especially after I have given him a pretty clear steer on where to do the
research);

4 Has not really ever understood the Enron business model (market making;
assets not for assets sake, but to serve the trading platform).

The positive: good work ethic, good written communications. I found him
pleasant, but I do not discount that when dealing with peers/subordinates, he
did suffer the behavioural deficiencies noted in point 3 above.

My thoughts are that we provide him sufficient advance notice, and pay, so
that he is not left in a far away and expensive place, without income (though
he is a retired foreign service officer, so he will ot be suffering
hardship). I need your guidance on this. He is almost certainly over 40
(though I do not make his age my business), so I will also look to you to
make sure that this is appropriately handled for someone in a "protected
class", as I would appreciate the employment laws. I think we need to commit
to move him back to the USA at our cost, though if he gets new employment in
singapore, or an employer who is willing to pay for his move, we should not
be on the hook (though if our paying to move him back to the USA helps him
get a job, then that should not be an issue or impediment).

I hope that this is enough to get you started, and that I have been clear. I
look forward to hearing from you on Monday. thanks mcs