Capital One CEO and founder, Rich Fairbank had much to be proud of both in terms of his and co-founder, Nigel Morris' accomplishments, and the accomplishments of Capital One. However, he and Morris didn't want to rest on their laurels. In 2000, they had called a meeting with their senior managers to assess the company's strategy. Specifically, Fairbank wondered if the company had executed on the optimal strategy throughout its history, and if the company's strategy had been consistent, yet fluid and flexible during changing times. He also wondered if the various functions had been optimally aligned with the company's strategy. Finally, Fairbank had watched other financial companies imitate Capital One's successes and wanted to ensure that the company remained ahead of the competition, while maintaining its culture of testing and innovation.
