Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Every Brilliant Person Is Also an Idiot: Part One 3-3-25
Mon, 03 Mar 2025
In this episode, Scott Becker examines the abrupt dismissal of Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen for personal conduct, highlighting how even the most successful leaders can make critical missteps.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic of this episode?
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast. This is part of our series that every brilliant person is also an idiot, part one. So today's discussion, and I just think this is the reality of the human existence, that most everybody, bright or not bright, also has flaws. Today's discussion centers on the Kroger, one of the largest grocery stores in the world.
Chapter 2: Who is Rodney McMullen and why was he dismissed?
Their CEO and chairman, Rodney McMullen. So Rodney McMullen was dismissed this week for personal conduct supposedly unrelated to the company. But it's just another reminder. Here's a guy at the top of the world. CEO and chairman of one of the best companies in the world.
Chapter 3: What challenges has Kroger faced recently?
Yes, they've been back and forth through potential merger talks, back and forth with different challenges with the FTC and the Department of Justice, but an incredible run and growth that Kroger's has had. Just incredible. And Rodney's right at the top of that. And then this weekend, news comes out that he's being dismissed for personal conduct. Now, again...
We'll call this every bright person is also an idiot part one. But I think it's just a constant reminder. And I don't know how you avoid this. People that are bright, people that are not bright, all of them do stupid things. And how do you control the stupid things so you don't crush your life or kill your existence? I have a brilliant friend who I went skiing with recently.
The guy skis like 55 miles an hour. He's a brilliant, brilliant guy, one of my favorite people in the world. Of course, he crashes going 55 miles an hour. I won't discuss the name for HIPAA reasons. It's not really HIPAA reasons. Just joking about that. But crashes going 55, 57 miles an hour. Horrendous concussion. Going to the orthopedic surgeon for the knee this week.
But again, goes in the category of every brilliant person is also an idiot. Today's story focuses on, again, Rodney McMullin, the CEO of Kroger. The ski story focuses on a close business colleague who's also brilliant and an idiot like all of us. I am no exception to that rule. Thank you for listening to the Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast. Thank you very, very much.