The search for a CEO can take months, and the fee the hiring company pays the recruiter is some multiple of the CEO’s annual pay. A lot of money changes hands. What does that final interview look like? My imagination goes into overdrive.
Candidate: What happens if running this Popsicle stand turns out to suck? What does the severance package look like? I must have a good severance package, or I can’t make a deal.
Chairman of the board: We’ll make you so rich you’ll be glad it didn’t work out. It hasn’t worked out for me on several occasions, and I’m richer than most countries in Central America.
Candidate: I can live with those terms. One more thing, I don’t want to have to talk to the public any more than I absolutely have to. I don’t really like talking to anyone.
Chairman: No problem there. We have speech writers who do that for you. We don’t believe in taking risks by opening our kimono to the public. Look at Romney’s gaffs, and he has executive experience. Imagine the damage a CEO can do just by opening his mouth. We believe in telling people only what we want them to know.
Any other questions before we sign a deal?
Candidate: How many people do I have to lay off?
Chairman: What do you think is an achievable number?
