20/03/2026
Cadbury is often discussed as a financial misstatement.
That’s not where the failure started.
The real issue is this:
How does performance continue without being questioned?
In many organisations:
• Reports look clean
• Targets are met
• Boards approve
But:
Challenge is weak.
Escalation is unclear.
Authority sits at the top.
So performance is accepted, not tested.
By the time issues surface,
the problem is already deep.
This pattern is not unique.
If results in your organisation cannot be questioned at multiple levels,
it is not strength.
It is exposure.