Projecting the exec's effectiveness onto the exec (e.g. "A/B/C Player") is woefully unfair, and my acquaintance & I would never intentionally suggest otherwise.

Projecting the exec's effectiveness onto the exec (e.g. "A/B/C Player") is woefully unfair, and my acquaintance & I would never intentionally suggest otherwise. Their effectiveness (positive, neutral, negative) is determined by a great many factors outside the individuals control -- e.g. company's size, growth rate, org structure, personnel, industry, etc. The exec's success or failure isn't an indictment of their abilities, just that they're (in)effective in this organization at this particular moment in time. It's on the founders / CEO to recognize this, manage expectations, continuously communicate, and ultimately to force a transition if necessary. Luckily, most execs know the score. This is also why exec's have such generous exit packages: both parties can admit they made a mistake & separate amicably.