Even after Crocs purchased Foam Creations in 2004, many Quebecers still regarded Crocs as one of the province’s great innovations, much like the Ski-Doo snowmobile. Mr. Snyder, in a statement, said the plant closing was a cost-reduction move forced by slowing sales. Presumably, the company will not be counting on the Quebec market to reverse that trend. IAN AUSTEN

Image Lance Armstrong Credit... Amy Sussman/Getty Images for IMG

THE ABSENTEE DIRECTOR Last year was exceptionally trying for the directors of Morgans Hotel Group, whose former chief executive, W. Edward Scheetz, resigned after a young woman died in his Las Vegas condominium, apparently of an accidental drug overdose. The company’s board held 11 scheduled meetings and a number of ad hoc meetings in connection of the departure of Mr. Scheetz, according to the latest Morgans proxy statement.

Having a director with the stamina to repeatedly ride a bicycle up some of the highest peaks in the French Alps would seem to be a bonus in times of such stress. Yet Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, did not attend a single meeting of his fellow Morgans directors last year, the proxy states. Early this year, Mr. Armstrong gave up his seat on the board after collecting more than $70,000 in fees and company stock in 2007.

Through a spokesman, the company said: “Lance Armstrong was a valued member of our board of directors. During Mr. Armstrong’s service, he was engaged and readily available to the C.E.O. and other directors for consultation on various issues and projects.”

PATRICK McGEEHAN

100 Going on 200 Jeffrey M. Peek believes in taking the long view  the very long view  when it comes to troubles that his company, the CIT Group, is facing. CIT, a commercial lender that has become ensnared in the subprime mortgage crisis, drew on $7.3 billion of bank credit lines last month and is rumored to be a candidate for a takeover. Last week, it announced a net quarterly loss of about $250 million.