
Why Skills-First Leadership Is Replacing the Ivy League Playbook in the C-Suite
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
September 8, 2023: On Thursday, the multinational cigarette maker decided to trade Russian and Belarusian enterprises in compliance with regional and international laws.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the transaction is expected to be completed within a month, the company said.
“Upon completion, BAT will not have a presence in Russia or Belarus and will receive no financial gain from ongoing sales in these markets,” it added.
Since Russia plagued Ukraine in early 2022, thousands of companies such as Apple, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola have pulled out of Russia. However, other global tobacco giants, including Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International, are still doing business in the country.
London-based BAT is a critical player in the global tobacco market with business operations in over a hundred countries and top brands, including Camel and Newport.
Reuters stated it controlled about 25% of Russia’s fourth-largest tobacco market internationally.
The buyer is a consortium led by BAT Russia’s management team members, which will wholly own the Russian and Belarusian businesses, BAT said. They will then be known as the ITMS Group.
BAT said that the employment of workers in Russia will remain comparable to their current terms for nearly two years after the deal closes.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
Companies invest millions in leadership development, yet many of their best executives leave within a few years. Why?
The most successful business leaders don’t just identify gaps in the market; they anticipate future needs before anyone else.
With technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and global interconnectedness, the role of business leaders
May 28, 2025: SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight, conducted on May 27, 2025, ended in failure when the spacecraft’s upper stage broke apart during its descent over the Indian Ocean.
May 27, 2025: Greek Coastguards Charged Over 2023 Pylos Migrant Shipwreck That Killed Hundreds
May 27, 2025: Volvo to Cut 3,000 Jobs in Europe as Part of $1.9B Restructuring Amid EV Slowdown and Tariff Pressures.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
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