While CEO exits are not unusual, unless due to run-ins with the law or some other aberration, they raise a bunch of questions when the head of the company quits after just a short stint.
This past week, two companies on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced the departure of their respective chiefs. Both affirmed the need for new leadership for their next growth phase but were silent on why their top officeholder could not continue running the show.
Membership has its privileges. That was the slogan of American Express for more than a decade since the late ’80s. In many ways, being a CEO is the ultimate membership card. Corner offices come with a bunch of perks, including intangibles such as power to steer strategy and shape culture.
At the same time, those privileges come with lots of fine print and invisible weights. For CEOs, the same spotlight that flatters can just as quickly scorch when things go awry. Add to that the less glamorous realities of the job — including bouts of sleepless nights, relentless shareholder scrutiny, and boardroom tussles — and the role of a corporate head honcho can sometimes feel more like a tightrope walk than a privilege.
