Often retail organizations will choose chief executives who possess expertise in a specific area that is determined to be key to the company’s future. This career path sometimes has an industry-hopping aspect to it, but the jump seems more logical and less shocking to outside observers.
Jeff Bezos had neither retail nor publishing-related experience before he started Amazon, but he had the essential technical expertise to create the amazon.com infrastructure. H. Lee Scott had a distinct transportation and logistics career path, which was an aspect of the business that Wal-Mart was interested in keeping strong. Restaurant experience is not what Darden wanted from Clarence Otis when they chose him to be CEO. Darden wanted his finance experience to keep that aspect of its restaurant chains strong. The career paths of these three retail CEOs illustrates that specialized focus and expertise in one aspect of a retail business can eventually lead to the CEO office as well.
The Career Path of H. Lee Scott, CEO, Wal-mart
- Born in Joplin, MO
- Son of a gas station manager and an elementary school music teacher
- Father’s helper, Phillips 66 gas station
- Graduated from Baxter Springs High School, Baxter Springs, KS
- B.S. degree in Business, Pittsburg State University in Kansas
- Executive Development Program, Penn State University
- Executive Development Program, Columbia University
- Laborer, tire mold manufacturer
- Management training program, Yellow Freight
- Terminal manager, Yellow Freight Systems
- Assistant director of transportation, Wal-Mart
- Director of transportation, Wal-Mart
- Vice president of transportation, Wal-Mart
- Vice president of distribution, Wal-Mart
- Senior vice president of logistics, Wal-Mart
- Executive vice president of logistics, Wal-Mart
- Executive vice president of merchandise, Wal-Mart
- President and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores division
- Vice chairman and COO, Wal-Mart
- Director of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
- President and CEO, Wal-Mart
The Career Path of Clarence Otis, Jr., CEO, Darden Restaurants
- Born in Vicksburg, MS, grew up in the notorious Watts ghetto in South Los Angeles
- Son of a janitor
- Graduated from Jordan High School, Los Angeles, CA
- Bachelor’s degree in both economics and political science from
- Williams College, Williamstown, MA (Magna Cum Laude)
- Law degree, Stanford University Law School
- Corporate law, specializing in securities law and mergers and acquisions, Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine
- Lawyer, Gordon, Hurwitz, Butowsky, Weitzen, Shalov & Wein
- Investment banking, Kidder, Peabody & Co.
- Vice president, First Boston Corporation
- Managing director, Giebert Municipal Capital
- Managing director and manager of public finance, Chemical Securities (JP Morgan Securities)
- Vice president and treasurer, Darden Restaurants
- Senior vice president of investor relations, Darden Restaurants
- Senior vice president of finance and treasurer, Darden Restaurants
- CFO, Darden Restaurants
- President of Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill, Darden Restaurants
- Executive vice president, Darden Restaurants
- Director, Darden Restaurants
- CEO, Darden Restaurants
