Even the best bosses in the world expect little more than a party, a few gifts and maybe a cake (ice cream cake if you’re feeling fancy). This was nowhere near the case for Net-A-Porter’s retiring CEO Mark Sebba. To say he received a hero’s send-off would be quite the understatement. After spending 11 years at the helm of one of our favorite retailers, it would seem he garnered quite the employee fan base. Arriving to work at the company’s headquarters in London for what he assumed was just another day, Sebba was greeted by thousands of employees dressed in a chic color palette of black and white. (Would we expect anything less of Net-A-Porter?) Dancing, singing and running out to congratulate him, they held up giant pictures of him or signs saying “Mark Sebba You’re the Man.” Offices in Hong Kong, New Jersey, Shanghai, Charlton and Manhattan also participated via web video and choreographed dancing.
Led through the crowd of admirers by a singer crooning Aloe Blacc’s The Man over and over, Sebba walked past employees dancing on their desks, acrobats, a live choir, netball players, carnival dancers, a marching band and a mariachi band before finally arriving at his (surprisingly unassuming) desk. Although clearly emotional, Net-A-Porter founder Natalie Massenet handed him a coffee while he composed himself and made a small speech saying “Thank you very much everybody. I am a bit overwhelmed, but how about getting back to work?” Inspiring words Sebba. We’ll assume he’s a better boss than he is a public speaker.
