Exposure: From President to Whistleblower at Olympus

2013 | Biography

The bestselling business book of 2012, now in paperback Michael Woodford was a company man. He'd risen through the ranks of giant Japanese firm Olympus to become CEO. But just weeks into the job in Tokyo he came across allegations of enormous fraud. Yet his every attempt at investigation was blocked. Losing his job, facing a cover up and possible threats to his life, Woodford fled the country. Then he did something Olympus didn't expect. He fought back. Risking everything, Woodford went on the offensive. He exposed the crimes at the company's heart, brought down those who tried to silence him - and became a hero. "Brace yourself. Woodford tells his tale like a thriller". (The Times). "A brilliantly gripping book with a great hero at its heart. Has all the hallmarks of a John Grisham novel...But Exposure is all the more frightening for being true". (Evening Standard). Michael Woodford grew up in Liverpool and joined Olympus as a medical equipment salesman, rising through the ranks to run its UK, MEA and European businesses. In April 2011 he was appointed President and chief operating officer of the Olympus Corporation - the first Western 'salary-man' to rise through the ranks to the top of a Japanese giant. That October he was made chief executive, but only two weeks later was dismissed after querying inexplicable payments approaching $2 billion. He was named Business Person of the Year 2011 by the Sunday Times, the Independent and the Sun, and in 2012 won the Financial Times ArcelorMittal Award for Boldness in Business. In 2013 he was the winner of the inaugural Contrarian Prize. He lives in London with his wife and two teenage children.

Michael Woodford (Author)