To CEO or not to CEO?

I am one of two founders in a new initiative – potentially a startup company. Both of us (as well as the company vision and concept) come from a creative background – we are both (firmly grounded with a good grasp and background in technology and business) artists. One of the core qualities of our lives is a relaxed approach to work – which means that we take the time to make the time to get things done right – and we will not compromise this quality in our lives.

While this is (arguably) all good and well – we feel that our business entity requires an additional energy. A driving day-to-day energy that will fuel the infrastructure processes that support business. Out of respect for our personal choices and to the business we are founding we have decided to seek a third partner – codenamed “The CEO”. A person who’s motivation and energy are suitable for the day-to-day bustle of getting (and keeping) a company up and running. Someone who can provide us with the conditions we need to help her create the conditions she needs to run a successful business.

One of our consultants who is assisting us in business strategy and fund-raising resisted this suggestion. He offered that one of the assurances that investors are looking for is to see that the founders are actively involved and committed to the company – that they are not merely seeking to make a quick-buck and then leave the company to fend for itself. Our counter argument was that this 3rd partner demonstrates a clarity and maturity of the founders that realize the critical role of good management and that are taking measures early in the process to ensure the company infrastructures include this critical facility.

Though this is an interesting conversation that deserves attention – I would like to point out a more subtle aspect. The (unspoken) subtext of the conversation was that when it comes to investors – there is talk of appearances – to make them feel that things are OK. This carries another more subtle (well hidden) subtext – that things as they are (well thought out, well intended, respectful of personal and business needs, etc.) are not OK – that they need to be disguised to appease. This was our wake up call – where the issue was (for the time being) resolved.

We decided to continue our search for “the CEO” – that third partner that will support our personal needs and those of the business. We will give thought to the form of the shape of the partnership and make sure that it is also supportive of personal and business needs of all the stakeholders. We are siding with straightforward truthfulness and honesty!

About Ronen Hirsch
Helping where I can. Involved in a few projects (details on my website www.iamronen.com) I am also a partner at Simplify! - an Israeli group who's foundations include eastern philosophy. We have done some work helping start-up companies and are establishing a formal subsidiary company that focuses on their needs. I believe that business success is directly linked to the developing state-of-mind of their leaders.

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anuj khurana
(17 points)
August 21, 03:08 am

hey looks like ure hiring maybe time to send in my CV :-)

on a serious note am still not clear why you need a CEO…the part about day to day operations sounds more like a operating office role…CEO is the driver of business …he leads the company from front….takes strategy decisions…typically you get a CEO when you think you need more expertise on those fronts than you have.

but then maybe i am wrong

Ronen Hirsch
(7 points)
August 21, 09:08 am

Anuj – I don’t have an answer for this yet – which is why I said codenamed “the CEO”.
“typically” as you yourself said there startups don’t have CEO’s and I completely agree with you on that – I also feel it is a problem.
I don’t think I need a CEO right this second. I think it takes time to find a CEO, and I believe that the sooner he is in the picture the more he can take a meaningful part in the shaping the company he will head. He might not start out as CEO – but he is clearly designated for that role!

Nathan Schorr
(3 points)
August 22, 07:08 am

CEO is too much of a title…my humble advice is to keep plugging away at your job, make sure that the product is the best that it can be. If you need to go out and search for money there is no one better than you, the creator to show the passion that you have for the project. A CEO might be necesary when you start growing faster and start making $$$, then again by that time you might have evolved into what you are looking for.

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