I guess I did have to specify "not all CEOs". Yes, from time to time there are going to be exceptions. I don't accept your assertion that it's common, but I'm sure that, on average, the US is worse than most other countries in this regard.

Nobody gets hired as CEO for "leadership capacity" alone. They also have to demonstrate what they will lead the people to do, and that better be something that will make the shareholders money. Bernie Sanders has generational leadership skills, and no board of directors would ever hire him as a CEO, not unless they want the employees walking off with the company.

Another thing I will concede is that I'm talking about public corporations, the kind that are listed on the stock market. Those dynamics don't change much when you leave the US, unless it's a country where the government forces it.