Supply Chain Leaders Are Becoming CEOs - And Here’s Why

The next generation of CEOs will come from supply chain. Here’s the playbook.

Forget everything you’ve read about climbing the corporate ladder through typical paths.

The real power play is the 20-year mission. The long, patient, methodical takeover of an entire enterprise from the supply chain function.

Look at Tim Cook at Apple. He didn’t start in marketing or strategy. He came in to fix a supply chain disaster. He cut inventory. He built a lean global network. He made Apple’s operations world-class. That discipline later made him COO. When the time came, the board knew the supply chain guy could run the entire company.

These leaders didn’t climb a ladder. They built an unassailable fortress of competence across the entire business.

This isn’t just a win for supply chain. It’s a complete takeover.

Why supply chain has become the CEO training ground

To understand why supply chain leaders are next in line, you must recognize that the supply chain function was fundamentally rewritten.

The role exploded from an operational cost center into the strategic heartbeat of enterprise value.

The old supply chain role was defined by efficiency and risk mitigation. Reduce costs. Maintain inventory levels. Negotiate with suppliers. Optimize transportation.