That was in reference to a particular CEO ro COO. It doesn't matter if Steve Jobs or Tim Cook is running Apple as long as they are competent and the organization is solid. As I said, I was referring to the "great man or woman" theory. Of course a successful organization requires "stellar" employees at every level.
> "But as you noted, a successful company needs a stellar COO." in the same paragraph, the obvious contradiction really weakens your argument.
That remark was in reference to the "news" cycle. If every successful company has a stellar COO ( just like they have stellar janitors, mid level managers, etc ), why is it news? Could it be just because she is a woman? That was what I was implying.
The only reason this is a story is because the media had to push out another woman story.
As he noted, every successful company has a stellar COO. Wonder why they aren't getting articles in large newspapers?
But, at least at a smaller/newer company, the CEO/COO has created the organization. It's not some thing that exists independently of the CEO/COO.