Majority of CEOs Say Thanks, But No Thanks to Oval Office: Survey

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The vast majority of corporate professionals would much rather take the helm of their own organization than become president of the United States, according to a survey released Thursday by a Los Angeles-based executive search firm.

Of 1,432 respondents surveyed in November, only 15 percent said they would choose being the nation's commander in chief over being the CEO of their own company, according to Korn Ferry.

"In a way, you could consider the incoming U.S. president as the next national CEO," said Korn Ferry Hay Group Senior Partner Rick Lash. "While serving as a corporate CEO is generally considered a very challenging role, executives acknowledge the U.S. president faces hurdles that are much higher than those faced by a leader in corporate America."

Eighty-one percent of respondents said that the role of U.S. president is more complex than the role of CEO at a Standard & Poor's 500 company.

Weighing in on the positive reasons one would pursue the presidency, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of respondents said the top reason would be to "make a difference." None of the respondents cited salary/compensation as the top reason someone would want the role.

-- City News Service, photo via White House Photograph Office