#corporate-leadership

#corporate-leadership

Driving the news: Walmart said Friday that McMillon, CEO since 2014, would step aside early next year in favor of long-time lieutenant John Furner. The Financial Times reported late Friday night that Apple's board is accelerating plans to replace Cook, CEO since 2011, as early as next year. Disney is working toward replacing Iger as CEO (again) early next year, and he's been more vocal about the coming change in recent days, discussing his impending exit on a British podcast.

The analysis examined stock performance six months before and after CEO appointments, adjusted against S&P 500 performance during the same period. Jim Farley, who took over as Ford's CEO on October 1, 2020, saw the company's average stock price jump from $6.41 to $10.22 in the six months after his appointment. This 59.6% increase came during a period when the S&P 500 fell by 18%, resulting in a market-adjusted performance of 77%.

A few days earlier, on Sept 29, Comcast said that its sitting CEO Brian Roberts will be joined by Michael Cavanagh, former president, in January. (The arrangement is being read as part of a succession plan.) And at Oracle a week before, ex-CEO Safra Catz moved into the vice-chair role, and was replaced by Clay Magouyrk, former head of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Mike Sicilia, who previously ran Oracle Industries.

The headlines seem clear: Corporate ESG is retreating. Sustainability is under political fire. Coalitions are dissolving. Climate commitments appear dead. Under closer examination, however, a more nuanced picture emerges: Although a fraction of companies have pulled back, many more are staying the course, or even doubling down. They're just doing it quietly.

For entrepreneurs, few events are more damaging than a product recall. The immediate image is always financial: refunds, fines and settlements. But anyone who has been inside these cases knows the true cost runs far deeper. Recalls erode consumer trust, unravel years of brand building and expose systemic failures in leadership. I have seen firsthand how these crises unfold. In nearly every instance, the warning signs were there.

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticized the company's decision to pull "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from ABC indefinitely after the late-night host's remarks on Charlie Kirk's death. "Where has all the leadership gone?" Eisner said in an X post on Friday, referencing Kimmel's suspension. Although Eisner - who ran the Mouse House from 1984 to 2005 - didn't call out current CEO Bob Iger by name, he took a clear shot at his successor.

Don Mulligan is the voice of consistency at Market Basket, one that our associates and customers can count on to proudly continue the same thriving culture and the 'More For Your Dollar' shopping experience," board Chair Jay K. Hachigian said in a statement. He praised Mulligan's "exceptional business acumen" and relationship with the company's employees, as well as his "deep understanding of the history and culture that make Market Basket so special.

Organizers of a Target boycott that began in January are pointing to their tactics as a hopeful sign that actions against corporate retailers can still make a deep impact. When Target announced its current chief executive officer will be stepping down in February 2026 and an insider was taking the helm, those organizers saw it as a move in the right direction and stress more than ever that boycotts will continue as long as previous promises made to the public go unfulfilled.

In 2025, almost 300,000 Black women exited the labor force, indicating a strategic failure with long-term consequences for workforce equity and economic stability.

Stankey acknowledges a shift away from traditional employment expectations, stating, 'Some of you may have started your tour with this company expecting an 'employment deal' rooted in loyalty. We have consciously shifted away from some of these elements.' His memo actively redefines loyalty and sets clearer expectations for employees within the changing landscape of corporate relationships.

CEO activism has transformed expectations of corporate leaders, who must now address societal issues beyond their industry, facing both rewards and risks.

Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.

The incident creates potential legal troubles and a crisis of leadership for the company, David Rice, HR expert at People Managing People, told Entrepreneur via email. "The big issue is the example that it sets. Obviously, a CEO should know better. But the fact that it's with the chief people officer is even worse."

The CBI urges bold action to revitalize London’s equity markets, suggesting the removal of share purchase stamp duty and greater flexibility on executive pay.

Boeing has faced significant challenges, from a series of aircraft malfunctions and management missteps to a strike by more than 33,000 machinists in 2024.

Bill Boeing's insistence on quality and precise observation starkly contrasts with current Boeing practices, where manufacturing oversight seems lacking, leading to disastrous safety incidents.

Solomon's crackdown on dissent and investigations into leaks signal a significant shift in corporate culture, moving away from Goldman's historically collaborative environment.

"It is an incredible honor to be asked to lead the world's greatest postal organization, with a history that stretches back before the founding of the United States."

The idea that the CEO should shoulder all the responsibility for public representation is not only limiting but also neglects a critical element of modern leadership: the power of the collective influence of the entire executive team.

Many CEOs, including Ted Pick, emphasize that the term 'pause' signals a need for careful reflection before significant business decisions are made, highlighting the tension in the current economic climate.