Rumors are swirling that the Trump administration is looking to replace Secretary of State and former ExxonMobil CEO and chairman Rex Tillerson after less than a year on the job, though the news comes as no surprise to those who felt Tillerson was ill-suited for the job from the outset.
“Tillerson was way over his head in every dimension stepping into the position,” senior associate dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management Jeffrey Sonnenfeld told Chief Executive. “He also had no relationship with Trump beforehand.”
The secretary’s relationship with President Trump has been rocky one thus far, with reports that Tillerson called the president a “moron” during a meeting in October making headlines, and Trump calling Tillerson out on Twitter over negotiations with North Korea. Now rumors that the president will replace Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo are gaining steam.
“Tillerson was way over his head in every dimension stepping into the position.” – Jeffrey Sonnenfeld
Trump’s disagreements with Tillerson may be tied to the president’s disappointment in his loyalty and lackluster ties to the business community.
“[Tillerson’s] only real credential was his personal warmth, which is considerable, his large handshake and his relationship with seven oil-producing nations—especially Russia,” Sonnenfeld says. “I think Trump wanted to leverage that, and to Tillerson’s credit he was taking a relatively independent-minded position on Russia, instead of becoming part of the chorus. That didn’t go down well.”
Tillerson also wasn’t bringing in many relationships from the business community to rally around Trump, according to Sonnenfeld, so Trump had to rely on others to develop those ties.
“[Trump] mistakenly thought that there would be a blind loyalty on Russia and a strong, charismatic following behind this really tall guy with a resonant voice and a big handshake, but it was a classic case of ‘big hat, no cattle.’ He wasn’t able to deliver on that front,” Sonnenfeld says.
If Tillerson is shown the door in the coming weeks or months, a return to the business world wouldn’t be out of the question, with board positions the most likely destination. His ties to the Trump administration, however, may make things more difficult for him, regardless of politics.
“He’s going to be a polarizing figure,” Sonnenfeld says. “He will now have detractors on both sides for being either complicit or disloyal to this administration.”
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
