The Etc. section of Bloomberg Businessweek had five paragraphs on the CEO of Young and Rubicam, and his recent decision to leave his post. Worklife balance is important to a lot of people, and here's an unusual CEO for whom family was the deciding factor.
My daughter is 13, and my son is 11. . . . I don't want them to leave home and say, "Well, you had a great career, but we don't know you." At 44, I'd rather be known as a good father than a good CEO.
--Hamish McLennan, CEO
Boundaries between work and home used to be fairly clear. Today, however, work typically invades personal life. As a consequence, maintaining work/life balance is no simple task.
It's very tempting to rack up hours at work, especially if a promotion or a raise are are in the offing. According to the Mayo Clinic, the consequences are numerous.
In all my years of consulting around the country, I've only heard of one other very senior officer giving up his job for his family. Executive positions can be all-consuming, but you can't have global roles and spend much time with your kids. I'm finding more and more managers and execs taking time out for the kids. Few get this kind of public attention. McLennan sets an example that more could mimic.