From the editor


When CEOs grapple with cosmic curveballs


On the web...


Keep up with the latest developments across the industry by visiting www.ns-businesshub.com


Chief Executive Officer 2023/2024


Editorial Editor Andrea Valentino Sub-editor Ellys Woodhouse, Wendell Vaughn Production manager Dave Stanford Group art director Henrik Williams Designer Martin Faulkner Head of content Jake Sharp


Commercial Client services executive Derek Deschamps


Publication manager Sanjeev Dole sanjeev.dole@progressivemediainternational.com Managing director William Crocker


Chief Executive Offi cer is published by Progressive Media International, a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations.


www.ns-businesshub.com


ISSN 2041-241X © 2023 Progressive Media International. Registered in England No. 06212740.


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions.


The products and services advertised are those of individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by or connected with the publisher. The opinions expressed in the articles within this publication are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of the publisher.


SUBSCRIPTIONS Single issue price: UK £44 EU €68 US $89 RoW $89 One year: Two year:


Email: cs@progressivemediaInternational.com


40–42 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EB, UK Tel: +44 20 7936 6400 Fax: +44 7724 9800 Printed by Stephens & George Print Group


C


EOs may like to imagine they’re masters of the universe. But beyond a couple of Musk-sized exceptions, Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities designation is rarely so straightforward. Between war and peace, and technical mishaps, and the vagaries of economic fortune, all but the most powerful chief executives remain at the mercy of vast forces beyond their control.


Consider Robert Jordan. As head of Southwest Airlines, the affable


Texan leads a company worth some $23bn, one with tens of thousands of employees and destinations stretching from Puerto Rico to Denver. But as I discovered in my interview with Jordan for this edition of CEO, not even he can get everything his own way, with weather and technology just two of the snafus to cause the airline massive disruption over recent times. Leaf through the pages of the magazine and you’ll spot similar stories. When it comes to security, for instance, executives who are titans at home still risk kidnap or worse abroad. It may not be quite as dangerous, meanwhile, but as we uncover, even the most empathetic of CEOs can still struggle with corporate mental health, especially with the economy in the doldrums.


Combined with broader geopolitical shocks – the war in Ukraine took much of the corporate world by surprise – executives may end up feeling like little more than masters of their own golf schedules. In truth, however, and as our article on CSR in the war-torn country article demonstrates, there are plenty of ways for CEOs to prod a raging planet in the right direction. In Ukraine’s case, that involves investment in the blood-stained country, and offering support for staff and their families. In the case of Robert Jordan, it encompasses dramatic funding for digitalisation, ensuring that Southwest isn’t held hostage to mere ones and zeros – or the foibles of the weather. If the universe, in short, is surely too large even for executives, they can perhaps keep mastery over their corners – and that will have to do.


Andrea Valentino, editor


UK £67 EU €102 US $134 RoW $134 UK £104 EU €163 US $214 RoW $214


Chief Executive Offi cer / www.ns-businesshub.com


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44