I just finished reading a new novel, "Santa, CEO." Wow! This was a fun book, I couldn't put it down!

Imagine that the magical figure, Santa Claus, decided many years ago to take his operation public, issue an IPO, and build up a corporate structure that was years ahead of its time. Now Santa is sitting atop a corporate giant, North Poles Industries (NPI). During the early days of NPI this was just what was needed to keep up with the growth of world population and believers in the Christmas spirit. But something has gone terribly wrong. Mrs. Claus recently left her husband of hundreds of years, the primary focus on NPI management is now "shareholder value," and Santa feels lost, forced to keep in touch with his company by reviewing the "Page Four Report" provided by his operations manager.

This is the premise behind "Santa, CEO" a novel by a fantastic new author, David Soubly. Start with a strong dose of Christmas lore, mix in some of today's most popular management mantras, add a touch of science fiction and fantasy, and then spice it up with corporate intrigue. It's a unique blend of literary styles that shows how the magic of Christmas can be poisoned with corporate greed. "Santa, CEO" has compelling story lines beautifully crafted into a novel that is hard to put down.

Soubly's story causes us to re-think what is important in corporate life. Is it short-term shareholder value, always looking for opportunities for efficiencies at the sake of tradeoffs that can be mitigated and managed? Or do we stay true to the spirit of the early years, connect with our true customers, and deliver a product that is almost magical?

Don't think that Santa is the mystical figure that has all of the answers. He is far from perfect, struggling for answers and he has serious flaws, just like the rest of us. From corporate naiveté to a bar-room brawl Santa claws through his problems in a story filled with intrigue and excitement. There are even some younger "half-elves" that help the "Chief" (as he is affectionately known at NPI) face his challenges.

This is no Christmas tall-tale but is more Grisham-like in a story of a corporation that has lost touch with it's roots. A worthy summer read. Highly recommended.