Comments on: Saving Face(book): When do you hire a pro CEO?

By: Greg Simpson

Greg Simpson — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:56:58 +0000

RT @shields_word: Facebook shares some secrets on making MySQL scale http://t.co/MPOrZNt9…

By: Mark Brown

Mark Brown — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:25:25 +0000

As a CEO I can say that we bring a specific set of skills focused only on the business aspects. When it becomes clear the business is suffering, you get a competent CEO in. The challenge with start-ups is to know when the business is suffering; what are the indicators? Is the business scaling up? This involves organizing resources so that the business can grow and structures are created to meet the resulting complexity. In the case of Facebook it is absolutely right to bring Sheryl in as COO; you want Mark and his genius but also someone who can keep an eye on the scaling up needs.

By: Andrew Scott

Andrew Scott — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:34:28 +0000

PS> I meant to add that while he atleast appears to be doing OK, Carleen is right that his interview performance was pretty lousy; it was all about ‘the dream’ and he didnt seem to have any strategy about what he intended to communicate about the business or about its revenue streams (or lack of). That may still not matter at this stage (and who am I to judge – at 23 I had just exited my web development company for a damn site less than $15b !!!!) but there is a lot of money at stake and as the hype calms and people are more willing to take a more objective view of Facebook and its financial performance, Mark is going to have to deliver the goods. He has without a sterling board advisory team from whom he is learning at an accelerated rate – and he’s a bright guy; but its too early to judge – in my view – whether he’ll stay long term or not. My money would be on not; he’ll get shifted sideways at some point.

By: Andrew Scott

Andrew Scott — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:30:08 +0000

@Sal What they bring is an unemotional focus on the bottom line, turning a dollar and the experienced skillset of reporting to shareholders and managing business relationships. I dont know how good a job Mark is actually doing, because I dont know the company nor him well enough. From the outside, its probably fair to say he is doing OK (afterall, who wouldnt want that $15b valuation, whether realistic or not). It’s not about being the face of the company – being the CEO is about the performance of the company.

By: Second Life: Founder Phil Rosedale is Out as CEO « FoundRead

Second Life: Founder Phil Rosedale is Out as CEO « FoundRead — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:51:24 +0000

[...] Another day, another dollar, and the hottest topic in the founders-sphere is still this one: When should you hire a pro-CEO? [...]

By: Sal Cangeloso

Sal Cangeloso — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:17:31 +0000

One day someone is going to have to tell me what is so attractive about these professional CEOs. I’m not saying Zuckerberg is the right guy for the job, or that just because you are the founder means you can be a great CEO, but I’d like to really understand what a pro CEO would bring to the table. I mean, aside from being good at interviews and looking like they were born in a suit. It seems like Zuck has done a pretty solid job so far even if a lot of people don’t seem to like him…

By: Boring Market

Boring Market — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:43:51 +0000

Zuckerberg had the technological understanding to launch Facebook and, no pun intended, is the face of his company. I think when his generation grows up the pressure will be on in order to revamp his company to meet changing demands he might have to change his mind the hand over the reins. It is hard to forget it still is a pretty new company, and they have yet to find a way to make money.