This can certainly be cronyism where an exec brings along an entourage of sycophants to build their own empire on the company's dime. It can also be a team sel

This can certainly be cronyism where an exec brings along an entourage of sycophants to build their own empire on the company's dime. It can also be a team selected from their broader network of known/proven professionals. People who they already know can work together and produce results. To steelman this tactic a bit. Put yourself in a new exec's position. You were brought in with specific goals to achieve, and a tight timeframe to show performance. At that level there are no second chances, and no excuses. You've been working long enough to know a number of people who can execute. It will be months before you know what the current team can/can't do, and hiring unknown people is always a dice roll. Early team changes are expected. Conversely if you wait months sifting resumes and building up the existing team, the opportunity to make significant changes will gradually evaporate. What would you do? Wait and see? Or put a team together of only the top 5% people from all the places you've worked previously?