Companies are slashing middle management. Jamba Juice's former CEO says it is crucial for success.

Jamba Juice's former CEO said middle management is important for maintaining company culture.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

• Jamba Juice's former CEO, James D. White, said he's all for middle management.
• He said this layer drives good company culture, which is important for bottom-line growth.
• But the trend in corporate America now is to slash middle management for efficiency and cost-cutting.

In the era of America's "Great Flattening," one longtime executive...