title: Chief executives. Scapegoats in the wilderness.
abstract: At least 40 chief executives have had their contracts terminated early in the past five years. Very few, if any, have gone through a disciplinary procedure. The most commonly stated reasons have been poor financial control and disagreements with chairs. This trend represents a considerable waste of talent. The experience required of a chief executive cannot be acquired overnight. The 'sudden death' of people at the top corrupts organisations and deprives them of continuity.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham University's Health Services Management Centre.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D004651:Employment; D007857:Leadership; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom