The Real Question - Why Is Mr. McClendon a CEO of Anything – And There Must be a
Million Women Who Could Do a Better Job
Last week the former
head of GE, Jack Welch made extensive comments on the role of women in
executive positions with companies. The
gist of his comments was that women had to perform in order to obtain high
level business jobs, and that they had to absolutely dedicate themselves to the
job, no time for any other fluffy stuff.
Now comes the story
of Aubrey McClendon. Mr. McClendon
is the CEO of Chesapeake Energy and it turns out maybe one does
not have to spend very much time or be highly dedicated to the job in order
to be the CEO.
"My primary
job as CEO has been, and always will be, to build long-term value along with
attractive short-term returns for the company and all its stakeholders,"
he said on a call with energy analysts. "That is and has been my primary
focus for the past 20 years."
But over the years, Mr. McClendon has helped run a hedge fund and two
venture-capital firms; battled a township in Michigan over zoning for a planned
lakeside development; amassed a large tree farm; and helped bring Oklahoma City
its first major-league sports team, the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, in which
he holds a 19% stake.
He has also acquired
ownership stakes in a TV station, several restaurants, a cattle ranch and a
cancer-treatment center.
Mr. McClendon seems to have a soft spot for drinks. He acquired an early
stake in Jamba Juice Co., built one of the country's largest wine collections
and opened a roadside attraction on Route 66 called Pops outside Oklahoma City
But maybe there is a good
explanation here. Maybe the explanation
is that men don’t have to dedicate themselves fully to the job in order to be a
CEO, that they are more than free to do whatever they want and engage in
whatever other activities appeal to them.
Maybe it is only women that have to sacrifice their lives for the
company in order to succeed to the top positions. Yeah, that would explain things.
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