Being an incredibly successful CEO of a tech company does not predict that you can run a clothing manufacturing, or food production company. Heck, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to run a tech company in a different segment very well.
Not all businesses are alike. Unless you know what makes makes the business successful you will fail and the business will fail with you. Unless you know how the business works - fail. Unless you understand the organization and have some control of your employees are hired and fired - fail.
“Unless you know how the business works - fail”
Ah! So you prefer a professional politician. Not me! We’ve have too many of them right now!
“Being an incredibly successful CEO of a tech company does not predict that you can run a clothing manufacturing, or food production company. Heck, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to run a tech company in a different segment very well.”
But it is predictive of success, a competent chief executive can transition from running a car company to running a food production company to running a clothing manufacturing business. Obviously, there are differences between each, and the savvy chief exec, recognizes from the start there are differences, will set out to inform himself of the differences and has the wisdom to consult middle management, engineers, techs, designers, the bean counters etc., before making any serious decisions or major changes, but broadly speaking, a business is a business, the principles are the same, the bottom line ultimately matters.
And there are pitfalls and pratfalls that are common to just about every business that the savvy CEO is aware of, and knows how to avoid and overcome, as well intangibles that are extremely beneficial to any business, and how to take advantage when they occur, or create to them, which may befall any business, and not directly related to the kind of business. He can recognize opportunities that may not be apparent to lesser experienced or less gifted, and may have created a personal network over the years which can be extremely useful, again regardless of the kind of business he is currently running.
A talented CEO can probably turn any failing business around if it is possible to turn it around.
I agree with you regarding middle management, however, Hiring experienced middle management from a food production company for a tech company would probably be very foolish, and a good CEO would probably not allow it; although he might, under unusual circumstances, and if so, it will probably turn out that he was right to do so.