Love them or hate them, without CEOs deftly steering companies, we couldn’t trade options for income or grow wealth by investing in stocks over the long term. And that’s why this year, I am thankful for CEOs. Their strong leadership carries our markets and the economy forward.
With so much uncertainty plaguing our economy, we don’t give enough credit to the CEOs who navigate their companies through rough waters. It’s no accident that Jim Cramer regularly interviews CEO’s on “Mad Money“. We can learn so much from them, from how to take advantage of an emerging trend to how to cut your losses sooner rather than later.
Let’s take a moment to recognize the difference makers.
Thankful for CEOs
Starting at the top we have Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. He is a brilliant operating manager who took the baton from the late Steve Jobs, and he has yet to disappoint shareholders.
Jeff Bezos is a legend. He continues to build the best online retailer (Amazon) on the planet.
Marillyn Hewson has lead Lockheed Martin since 2013, ensuring it remains the strongest defense name in the country.
Arne Sorenson is the first CEO of Marriott who is not a member of the founding Marriott family. The company’s many brands have allowed it to be a strong player on the NASDAQ.
Dara Khosroshahi, CEO of Uber, is a fantastic leader who worked wonders at Expedia. I have no doubt that he will also work wonders at Uber.
Despite the incredible failure of the “unbreakable” windows on the new Tesla pickup, Elon Musk has proven that he’s a big thinker.
Say what you will about Mark Zuckerberg. More than two billion people engage on Facebook’s social platforms each day.
JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon runs the largest bank in the US (and the sixth largest in the world). Under his watch, the company consistently posts profits.
Oscar Munoz has led United Airlines through some very rough times – and a merger with Continental. He has helped restore employee pride and earned the trust of customers who “fly the friendly skies”.
Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Arnold Donald is a major player in the travel/leisure sector. He has helped build the company into the largest cruise line in the world (based on number of passengers and ships in its fleet).
Lisa Su has lead Advanced Micro Devices to an amazing comeback. When she was appointed CEO in 2014, the stock traded at under $2 per share. Today the stock is hovering near $40 – a more than 1,000% return on her watch.
Cheryl Bachelder, interim CEO of Pier One, last managed AFC (the parent company of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen), and sold the firm to QSR for over $70 a share.
Remember, we could not grow our portfolios or wealth without their leadership. That’s why I’m thankful for CEOs this year.
