Seems to me some founders are the right CEO for the first few years of a company, and should be replaced at a certain point in scale. Typically they transition

Seems to me some founders are the right CEO for the first few years of a company, and should be replaced at a certain point in scale. Typically they transition to a CTO, board-level advisor, or chief visionary sort of position. Often, after a few more years, the founder will leave, either because (s)he hasn't been able to fully release the reins, or just because (s)he is bored and wants to start a new venture. [edit: or because the CEO is a paranoid psychopath and wants to scorch the earth, enforce fealty, and redact the founder from the company history.]