Qualities Sought In CEOS

(Source - Fortune, February 3, 1986)

The following qualities were identified in Fortune Magazine as those that are most sought after in CEOs by executive recruiters. Many of these qualities have been identified with one or more LIFO^® styles in the list below. Can you identify the LIFO^® styles of those qualities that have not been identified?

What Recruiters Look For

"The prospective chief executive has to be action oriented.. you find a lot of planners who can’t act." (CT)
"the ability to build a sense of shared values (SG, CT)
"Judgment about where the business should be heading" (CT, SG)
"Steady progress through the ranks (CT), profit and loss experience (CH), excellent communication skills (AD), Vision that can be imparted to others (SG)
Self-confidence (CT), the ability to take risks without undue worry (CT), high integrity (SG)
"A pattern of accomplishment, rather than uninterrupted straight-line success along the same dimension." (CT)
"A team player rather than a virtuoso" (SG)
"Commitment" (SG, CT)

Douglas H. McCorkindale, V.P., CFO and CAO, Gannett Co.

"Cool (CH),canny, good negotiator (AD). Logical lawyer’s mind (CH). Helped build media empire (CT). "You’re too combative", a professor told him, "better go to law school" (CT)

Paul Montrone, Executive V.P., Fin. & Adm., Allied-Signal Inc.

"intelligent and perceptive. One of the best financially oriented executives.
"It requires flexibility - you’ve got to roll with the situation" (AD)
"In a merger, everybody’s got to compromise a bit, and you’ve got to learn to live with people you haven’t grown up with".

Norman P. Blake,Jr., Chairman and CEO, Heller International, Corp., Fuji Bank Ltd.

"Charismatic, creative, gutsy - has unbelievable energy and Boy Scout ethics (CT, AD, SG).
When took command sent 3000 employees a letter stating "what you can expect from me" and "what I can expect from you" , signed "Norm"
Handed out company watches "Play to Win". On his desk, he placed a sign

GET THE SPECTATORS OFF THE FIELD

Got rid of many senior managers, trimmed the work force by 15% and set out to create what he calls a "clean, mean fighting machine". He concedes that those words are a cliche, but adds, "They imply toughness, style, candor and focus. And that’s what I’m demanding of every employee." (CT)
Taking the Heller job was the 19th career move since he left university (CT).
"I tell my people, if you don’t make budget, I’ll help you fo it." (SG)

Roger A. Enrico, President and CEO, Pepsicoal USA Pepsi Co.

"Tough (CT), wily, inexhaustible (CT). Has fertile imagination, but is deadly serious."
There’s no masking his ambition. As one headhunter says: "Roger does not come to the office to make friends." A deadly earnest competitor he is not impressed with Coke’s soft drink proliferation. "Megabrand strategy is just a glib marketing phrase," he says. "When people pick up a Pepsi, they know what they’re getting. I don’t think you can say that about the other product."

Donald R. Beall, President and CEO, Rockwell International

A driver, a strong ambitious leacder, grounded in all aspects of the industry" (CT, CH)
"determined to eliminate as many layers of management as possible"
"basic aim to encourage creativity" (AD)
"strength at the top is necessary for monitoring Rockwell’s strategic direction" (CT)
"likes to run things very tight" (CT, CH)

Thomas S. McIntosh, President, Chairman, CEO Zapata-Offshore Co., Zapata Corp.

"bright, aggressive, goal-oriented. Leads by example. A workaholic who wins loyalty and results." (CT)
"This is a time that’s really exciting...How do we grow when our competition’s flailing to stay afloat?....Gives us an opportunity to show what this company’s made of..In boom times an 8-year-old girl could take the orders over the phone.. If we don’t get our priorities straight and get some actions started, there are plenty of rigs out there to take our jobs." (CT)
The man likes to compete, whether at winnign offshore drilling contracts, in late night gin rummy games, or on the tennis court early in the morning.
"Today we are pressed by customers to give more for less". "Our problem is providing quality service despite lackluster earnings". (SG)

Nolan D. Archibald, President and CEO, Black & Decker Corp.

"Good strategic thinker. Personable, sensitive to people, Versatile. (CH, AD)
"Intends to be aggressive in new-product development" (CT, SG, AD)
He also talks about the need for better teamwork in staving off foreign competition " (SG, CT)
"More coordination is needed. We must become obsessed with being a market-driven company". (CH, AD)

C. Shelton James, Group Vice President, Information Systems Business Section, Gould Inc.

"Keen mind, intuitive but also strong numbers man" (CT,CH)
"The key to this business is the culling process - it’s picking the right technology to making a business out of." (CH, CT)
"You have to give people a clear idea of what new things are wanted" (CT, CH)

Jane Evans, President and CEO, Monet Crystal Brands Inc.

"Outgoing, dynamic, capable" (CT, AD)
"Fluent in French, German, Italian and Spanish" - " I started out to be a Mata Hari in the foreign service."
Several presidential jobs.
Was frustrated being a General Mills groupie behind Wheaties and Cheerios."
"When they sought a new president for Montet, I realized that was the perfect job for me" (CT)
"She runs things."

Thomas G. Plaskett, Senior VP Marketing, American Airlines Inc., AMR Corp.

"Crisp, efficient, clean-desk man, yet innovative." (CT,CH, AD)
"I had a boss at GM, who if he didn’t fire you once a day, it was unusual. From him I learned how to use anger effectively."
Though Paskett’s associates say is pretty unflappable (CH), he admits that "when I get mad, people really know it." (CT)
"This is a glamorous business, but it takes professional managers to make money out of it." (CH)
"He dislikes memos and written reports." "Unless you get everybody into the same room at the same time, nobody gets it straight (CT CH AD). Besides I like to get everybody’s viewpoint (SG)."

Louis Gerstner, President, American Express Co.

Good mind and brilliant presenter. No nonsense executive. Cold, calculating, politically obvious and not sensitive to subordinates. (CT, CH)

Richard S. Braddock, Sector Executive, Citicorp

"Ability to excute and vision, loyal to John Reed (CT SG)

William George, Executive Vice President, Honeywell

"Packages himself well. Articulate and verbal but can lay it on a little bit thick" - results oriented with good people skills (CT AD)."