New York
CNN Business
—
Marc Benioff is passionate about Twitter. He wants it so badly that he can have it.
Benioff, Salesforce
(CRM) chairman and chief executive officerIn an interview with CNN’s Poppy Harlow, he said that if it were up to him, he would “absolutely” buy Twitter.
To be clear, he won’t actually do that. “I will never buy Twitter,” Benioff told Harlow. “Just because I want something doesn’t mean I’m going to get it… I’d like to eat it right now with three scoops of ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry. But I won’t have it.”
His comments come in the middle of Twitter
(TWTR)‘Mr Cool fight with Elon Muskwho offered to buy the company but then canceled the deal.
Benioff added that he still thinks Twitter is the “biggest, most unrealized, most underfunded brand” in tech, adding that “it’s an amazing company, an amazing brand, an amazing platform, and it can do incredible things for the future.” . I have always been in love with the product. I use it every day and I strongly believe that it still has great potential.”
Salesforce considered a Twitter deal in 2016. The idea of taking over Twitter.
“When I went to buy Twitter and I had these conversations, all my shareholders came up to me and said, ‘You can stop this now.’ You’re not going to follow that vision,” he said, adding, “It was a difficult moment for me.”
Salesforce went on to make another bold deal by agreeing Get the collaborative workforce app Slack to $27.7 billion at the end of 2020.
Benioff’s net worth is $6.2 billion. According to ForbesTesla and SpaceX CEO Musk is the richest man on the planet with an estimated net worth of $254.6 billion.
In addition to his Twitter comments, Benioff also discussed his concerns with Harlow about what’s next for the global economy. Investors are also clearly nervous. Salesforce shares have lost more than 40% so far this year.
Benioff said deflation in Japan and Europe were potential problems, and he believed Europe and the UK were “going into recession”. But he doesn’t think the US is in recession.
Salesforce co-CEO: The planet is a key stakeholder
He also talked about climate change. abortion rights and other topics in an extensive interview. Benioff told Harlow that big companies like Salesforce are one of the 30 stocks dowhave a responsibility to do more to help the planet.
“We can use our businesses as platforms for change,” he said. “It’s about reducing emissions. It’s about us all going to net zero,” he said, adding that Salesforce is still a company with billions of dollars in annual revenue and profits, even as the company continues to focus. be kind to.
“We can do anything. We can have super high revenue, super high profit, super high cash flow, and we can manage for all stakeholders,” he said. “That means we manage for our employees, our customers, our communities, our homeless, and yes, the planet. is a key stakeholder.”
Inspired by Benioff Founder of Patagonia‘s recent decision to hand over ownership and ensure that the company’s future profits go to environmental charities.
“I love what he does. I think we are [Salesforce] more work needs to be done,” Benioff said.
Doing more also means standing up for all your employees, he added. sales force workers helped move in Indiana For example, because of strict abortion laws, and he said the company does not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender preferences.
“We have to be for equality and dignity for every person,” he said, “and if you’re not for equality and dignity, then … that’s not something I can work on. And we’re going to have to leave your city or state.”
