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In the next decade, I think the frequency of co-CEOing, or a strong CxO/CyO founder-pair will increase and become a more effective pattern than single-CEOing. It used to be viewed as a bad compromise pattern, often investor imposed, but there’s more real reasons now. Yin-yang ftw
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When there are yin-yang tensions in the world, it’s useful to have a pair of people reflecting the dominant tension. One person is not good at holding a paradox properly. For eg: a double down on China/home shore the manufacturing running debate at the top
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I'm unconvinced. I think the trend is less about external environment than CEO control / perception. Often one "co-CEO" is the "founder" and the other the "management", where it keeps it ambiguous unlike previously explicit CEO/COO or Exec Chair/CEO pairs.
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I used to think it was some kind of personality failing of the founder who can't let go (which I think it still is), but I think it may be closer to my tweet above - ie a specific game of maintain strategic control as "co-CEO" while having the other co-CEO be the manager.
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Seems like Zuck, Elon, etc. already do this, but using the CEO/COO pairing, but you need their kind of share ownership power to maintain this I think. Co-CEO may be a way to "still be the CEO" (with the powers you need) while having a "real CEO" actually run it.
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