[zobzu]

actually its both "thanks" to his attitude and other traits (intelligence, etc. putting it all in the same bag)

if you aren't an asshole, at least a little bit, it's difficult to manage a company successfully. you'd be seen as weak and/or other sharks would eat you anyway.

[cageface]

Ed Catmull is anything but an asshole and he's run Pixar brilliantly. It's also possible to get people do what you want just because they respect the hell out of you.

[jonhendry]

And he's worked for Jobs for over 20 years.

[cageface]

I worked for Ed for ten of those. Jobs was very hands off at Pixar. I think he realized that Ed had things under control.

[jonhendry]

True, but if anyone at Pixar was going to experience the worst of Jobs over the years, it would probably be Ed, because he would be one of the few interacting with Jobs.

[cageface]

Probably, which makes it that much more impressive (IMO) that he never tried to emulate Steve's less admirable qualities.