The Myth of the Superstar CEO 0
Chris O’Brien, at the San Jose Mercury-News, explores a new study that explains that it is, indeed, a myth. A nugget (emphasis added):
Elson explained that too many boards have come to see CEOs like superstar athletes. A great hitter for one team should be a great hitter for another team if they are traded or move through free agency.
Likewise, if you’re a great CEO for company A, you’ll also be a great CEO at company B, even if they’re in completely different markets or industries.
Leadership is leadership is leadership. But Elson and Ferrere say, in fact, that specialized knowledge is absolutely essential.
In fact, the myth of the superstar CEO actually assumes that, if you are a great hitter for a one team, you are ipso facto destined to be a great point guard for another and a fantastic quarterback for a third.
