First Pass

24 stories from 11 sources

Leadership changes test strategy, governance, and growth discipline

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

Netflix has abruptly removed Bela Bajaria as its chief content officer, surprising Hollywood because of her seniority and influence inside the company. The circumstances remain unclear as the industry weighs the decision against Netflix’s recent stock struggles and reputation for sudden executive exits.

9:43 PMVariety

Eric Kutcher, McKinsey’s North America chief, has emerged as the leading candidate in the consultancy’s complex internal election for its next global leader.

12:00 AMFinancial Times

Boeing shares rose 16% in the first three weeks of 2026 as investors backed CEO Kelly Ortberg’s turnaround effort, but the rally soon lost momentum. Analysts remain broadly bullish despite high oil prices and continuing FAA delays.

12:50 PMBloomberg Markets

Supermicro has appointed tech investor Mark Long as CFO, filling a role that had remained open since the company promised a replacement in December 2024. The appointment follows a $2.5 billion smuggling case and the arrest of a company co-founder.

5:44 PMFortune

American Airlines' network chief is leaving as the carrier has largely emphasized domestic network growth. The shift comes against a market where international flying has generated stronger financial returns.

12:13 PMSkift

Record CEO turnover and weak returns from corporate AI investments indicate that executive leadership and board oversight are changing fundamentally. The article sets out five priorities for leaders and directors navigating that shift.

1:02 PMChief Executive

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

ADP CEO Maria Black says employees who trust their CEO and senior leaders are 41% more likely to be engaged. She argues that building that trust is straightforward in principle but requires sustained effort from leadership.

10:05 PMFortune

Scott McCallum, a Blackstone alum, has joined UDR as chief investment officer. He succeeds Joe Fisher and Harry Alcock, who previously held the role.

3:42 PMHousing Wire

Doug Middleton has joined Cushman & Wakefield to lead its institutional capital markets business in New York City. His former CBRE colleague, Jack Stillwagon, is also moving to Cushman & Wakefield as executive managing director.

2:47 PMHousing Wire

Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino has joined the board of mortgage company Better. Her appointment follows a proxy fight that restored founder and CEO Vishal Garg’s influence at the company.

12:48 PMHousing Wire

Organic revenue growth accounts for nearly 70% of value creation, yet companies often leave substantial growth untapped inside existing operations. The recommended approach is to identify hidden opportunities, pursue them through focused sprints, and institutionalize the gains.

12:47 PMChief Executive

Wesley LePatner’s husband and a former Blackstone colleague are building a foundation in her honor around her example of combining executive leadership, community involvement, and philanthropy. The initiative aims to train 1,000 leaders to pursue those commitments together.

11:59 AMFortune

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