The CEO Factories

I have read years back Hal Geneen proclaiming that ITT as the CEO university. Its another matter that the conglomerate almost fell apart after his tenure. This is an interesting list of companies that produced the most chief executives – I have seen companies calling their key executives as CEO’s in waiting and some companies pride themselves as a company of CEO’s. There are some companies where every executive behaves like a CEO & there are companies where CEO does not matter & there are companies where CEO’s are everything – new economy or old economy does not matter!! There are companies where everyone likes to imitate the CEO behavior. I normally watch closely what happens to an enterprise after the CEO departs giving a true result about the effectiveness, much before the new CEO is able to bring in changes/stamp his imprints across the organization.But anyways an interesting list - Have always found CEO’s coming from deeply talent rich companies doing well – atleast the ruboff effect used to be pronounced. I have generally seen new CEO’S after taking charge driving change as change agents bringing huge difference to the DNA, Culture and ofcourse results. We have to grant that it is an incredibly powerful combination for a dynamite like CEO groomed in great instituitions (important that he /she does not get trapped in the comforts of the office).