| “ | I find you refreshing. You're young, bold, exactly what we need right now. | ” |
— Phillip Price (S1E10) | ||
Phillip Price is the CEO of E Corp. He is played by Michael Cristofer.
Background
Price tells Angela that his birthday is July 4, contrary to public knowledge.
He became CEO in 1995, following the death of his predecessor Lester Moore in a plane crash. Under his tenure, the company reached new heights: expanding into new fields such as technology and media, employment topping 20 million, posting the highest profits.
2015
Season 1
After the arrest of Terry Colby in March, interim CTO Tyrell Wellick prepares a speech requesting that he be assigned to the position permanently. However, right before the meeting, Price emerges from his office requesting that Tyrell reschedule. Price is cordial and apologetic as he brings up that the board has a very good CTO candidate they are excited about. Price has his assistant Anwar set up another meeting in two weeks and compliments Tyrell's tie before leaving the lobby area. (“eps1.2_d3bug.mkv”)
In early May, Price introduces the new CTO Scott Knowles at his promotion party, praising him for his promise and intelligence for marrying a woman his equal (a joke). (“eps1.8_m1rr0r1ng.qt”) Two days later, Price is laying on the couch in Tyrell's office when he enters, startling him in his paranoid state. Price asks if his child born the day before was a boy, responding "good." Tyrell thanks him for the flowers sent, but Price admits it was Anwar, joking that he has a way with them (referencing Anwar being gay).
Price then cuts to the point, addressing that the murder of Sharon Knowles is horrible and that the police believe Tyrell is a person of interest. He recognizes the corporate competition for CTO and Scott's frustration, but the scandal is what forces his hand to let Tyrell go. Tyrell shouts in protest, much to Price's amusement as he had imagined the various ways he might reacted, although he is ultimately disappointed. Price tells him to find the moment that led him to this state of embarrassment and reconcile with it. He leaves as Tyrell pleads with him. (“eps1.8_m1rr0r1ng.qt”)
After the 5/9 hack and the public suicide of an E Corp executive, James Plouffe, Price meets with new employee Angela Moss who was near enough to the dead man to get his blood on her shoes. He expresses his condolences for the traumatic experience, offering her to go home. He recognizes her as Colby's reference and invites her to a press conference he is doing in the afternoon. Before leaving, he gives her money to buy new shows.
At the event, Price meets with Angela privately and encourages her to ask questions. She asks why he is confident in a time of global crisis. He says the perpetrators are merely humans like themselves, except that he has the power of the world's largest conglomerate. Angela asks why she, being a child of Washington Township, is allowed to work at E Corp. Price says he finds her young, bold, and exactly what the company needs right now, and encourages her to take the compliment. Confronted with a large picture of Plouffe, Price expresses his distaste for the deceased, as he was a drinker, a gambler, and weak. He says the world, even the man's family is better off, as he opens his press conference with a moment of silence for his dear friend.
Later, at a mansion filled with international rich men, Price is having a glass of wine when he is joined by Minister Zhang of China. The two are shown to be friendly. Price asks what is on his mind, but is annoyed when Zhang brings up coltan mines in the Congo. Zhang recognizes Price's troubled demeanor, as Price confirms that he knows the person responsible and will handle them as they usually do. Zhang points out a woman playing a harp, a likens it to the story of Emperor Nero who played a lyre merrily as he watched Rome burn. (“eps1.9_zer0-day.avi”)