Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by defrost 146 days ago
There are many reasons to deny a CEO ... in a good company structure such denials are circled back around to the board for review.

Case in point: Allowing a CEO with no flight training to "have the keys" to the company <rare, expensive, uniquely outfitted, airframe> because they want to take it for a spin.

Sheparding Royalty in Monarchies has been a neccessary, delicate, loaded, and life threatening role for centuries.

Being a C-suite Groom of the Stool isn't a happy job, but somebody has to do it.
1 comments
kulahan 146 days ago
I guess, but it’s his plane in a sense. If he wants to fly it and destroy the company, it’s his call. You just give the advice.

To be clear, I’m referring much more to CEO/owners - maybe more like Zuck than Bezos

link
defrost 146 days ago
No, it isn't - it's an asset owned by the company and shareholders - a CEO is an appointed or elected officer.

> To be clear, I’m referring much more to CEO/owners

Owners are what you are talking about. CEO / Owners are Owners and can act like owners.

That said, even owners need to be herded like cats when they are making bad decisions that impact tens of thousands of people on the basis of hubris and feels.

Somebody has to toss them shiny keys until the moment passes and they can make rational choices again.

link
avs733 145 days ago
The question isn’t whether they want it is whether they have a business need, as with any employee.

The CEO of vocal cola has no business need to know the secret formula. Giving it to him has no upside only downside, so you don’t.

link
kulahan 144 days ago
So who gets the formula? A chemist with no vested interest? I have no clue why a CEO would be untrustworthy when any other employer wouldn’t be.
link
avs733 144 days ago
Whoever needs to to do their job. And you put in security controls (e.g. part A and part B). Also compensate your people well and don’t publicize who they are.

Semiconductor does this all the time…engineers on team A know only about their process critical gate materials step. Engineers on team B know about their lithography step. They are trained not to disclose and people respect that.

link