Management: On Top Again

In a curt and controversial departure, John L. Burns nearly four years ago was suddenly out as president of sprawling RCA, even though his contract for the $200,000-a-year job still had more than five years to run. Burns has never given a reason—and neither has RCA. In the succeeding months—and years—he got the customary offers from other companies anxious to hire a top-level manager, but turned them all down. "There are not," he said, "many jobs available on that level." Burns largely dropped out of sight; he became a private consultant to several companies, served as vice chairman for E....