I was thinking the same thing. I've never seen a job posting for a CEO role. Especially from such a prominent organization. Something must be up.

I've seen a lot of CEO and ED positions advertised in magazines over the years. Usually they are in an upscale classified ads section near the back. I can't speak to why an organization would or wouldn't do that as opposed to a discreet approach, but internal candidates would know either way.

Maybe it's something similar to what they do in the ivory tower where they have to show they are looking for candidates in all sorts of different places beside internally to combat cries of nepotism and favoritism? Maybe that's overthinking things?

It can be different for non-profits. I've seen several heads of those types of orgs posted publicly.

I am thinking seriously of Yishan-style CEOs, and the board and other executives etc ideally should be held to the same standard too.

In the paper edition of The Economist they do occur.

I remember seeing the advert when the Bank of England was looking for a new governor:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/sep/11/bank-englan...

maybe it's a negotiation tactic/they want arguments to be able to offer less

That's like your partner setting up a Tinder profile to solicit a marriage proposal. Pretty harsh tactic.

also, do you not ever tell a potential employer you have an offer from elsewhere, and to either offer more or you won't be in a position to accept their offer? if you don't, you should, it works.

I'm sure some people actually do threaten to leave unless there is a marriage proposal. people with clear life goals (that I don't share)