2019, 2020 Years of Great CEOs Exodus, See Why

2019 and 2020 have been described as years of CEOs Exodus as we have witnessed a huge number of CEOs resigning from the positions.

First, the abrupt departure of Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked the business world.

Bob Iger’s departure was such a long time coming that it feels like it came out of nowhere.

Next to announce his leave was Salesforce co-CEO Keith Block. Block became Salesforce’s co-CEO in 2018, with the hopes to let longtime CEO Marc Benioff focus on strategy and culture while Block took on more of an operational role. But it looks like the dual CEO roles didn’t quite pan out.

During a call with analysts on Tuesday, Block said, “It’s a tremendous accomplishment, but I’m ready to start a new chapter.” Cryptic.

News of Block’s departure overshadowed a massive deal between Salesforce and Vlocity. Salesforce will acquire the cloud and mobile software provider for approximately $1.33 billion. Vlocity had raised approximately $162 million in venture funding from investors including Salesforce Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and TDF Ventures.

And finally, Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, who has helmed the company for a decade, planned to step down at the end of the year and remain executive chairman.

As Fortune’s Alan Murray wrote : “Banga looms large in my book for his passionate advocacy of financial inclusion around the world.” The company has some 1,500 financial inclusion projects in 80 countries touching 500 million people.

…. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: The head of Uber’s food delivery service unexpectedly stepped down Tuesday too, after serving the unit since its inception. Jason Droege, the vice president of Uber Everything since March 2014, was part of the UberEats business since 2015. Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s vice president of international rides, will replace him, effective immediately.

“The move comes as Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi clamps down on the company’s finances on a new expedited timeline,” my colleague Danielle Abril reports.

“The company, which lost $8.5 billion in 2019, says it plans to be profitable, minus a number of major expenses, by the end of the year … While Uber Eats is one of the company’s fastest-growing units, generating $734 million in revenue last year, it’s also one of the company’s largest expenses.”

Just some days ago, Tech giant Microsoft announced that its co-founder, Bill Gates, decided to step down from the company’s board of directors.

According to his own announcement on LinkedIn, Gates plans to focus on major issues such as global health, education, development, and increase his efforts in tackling climate change. He stated that the leadership of the two firms he is leaving behind has never been stronger, which made him feel that this is the right time to leave.

Watch the video below to have an insight of the whole issue.