When CEOs Meet Head of States

The practice of business leaders meeting heads of state has a long history that dates back centuries. However, the increased frequency of such meetings can pose new risks in the modern era.

The practice of CEOs meeting with heads of state has become increasingly common in recent years as globalization and the increasing interdependence of economies have made it more common for business leaders to engage with political leaders on issues of mutual concern. While not all meetings of that nature have been publicized, some of the more famous high profile encounters have been:

• In 1994, Bill Gates, the CEO of Microsoft, met with President Bill Clinton to discuss technology policy and the potential of the internet.
• In 1997, the CEO of Coca-Cola, Roberto Goizueta, met with Cuban President Fidel Castro to discuss investment opportunities in the country.
• In 2011, Apple CEO Steve Jobs met with President Barack Obama to discuss technology policy and innovation.
• In 2018, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss investment opportunities in the country.

Recently, the meeting between Apple CEO Tim Cook and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised concerns that while such meetings can provide valuable opportunities for dialogue between the business community and political leaders, given the geopolitical tensions rising in the world and governments becoming increasingly faced with the daunting task of taking sides, they can also pose significant risks and pitfalls.

Origins

The practice of business leaders meeting heads of state has a long history that dates back centuries. However, the frequency and importance of such meetings have increased significantly in the modern era of globalization and the rise of multinational corporations.

One early example of business leaders meeting with heads of state is the East India Company, which was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600. The company had significant political and economic influence in India and other regions, and its leaders often met with British political leaders to discuss their interests and influence policy.

In the 20th century, as the world became more interconnected, business leaders started to play a more prominent role in international affairs. For example, during World War I, business leaders in the United States were brought in to help manage the war effort, and many of them had regular meetings with President Woodrow Wilson.

In the post-World War II era, business leaders became even more involved in international diplomacy, as companies began to operate on a global scale. Business leaders frequently meet with heads of state and other government officials to discuss trade, investment, and economic policy, and to advocate for their company’s interests.

Today, it is common for business leaders to participate in high-level international summits, such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where they can engage with government leaders and other stakeholders on a wide range of global issues.

A brief history of risks

There have been several historical cases where meetings between CEOs and heads of state have led to major problems for the world. One prominent example is the Teapot Dome scandal in the United States during the 1920s. This scandal involved Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leasing federal oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to private oil companies without competitive bidding or due process. The investigation into the scandal revealed that the CEO of one of the companies involved, Harry F. Sinclair, had met with President Warren G. Harding at the White House just weeks before the lease was awarded.

The Teapot Dome scandal had far-reaching consequences, tarnishing the reputation of the Harding administration and leading to calls for greater transparency and accountability in government decision-making. It also highlighted the potential dangers of close relationships between business leaders and politicians, particularly in industries such as oil and gas where government decisions can have significant financial implications.

Another example is the relationship between Nazi Germany and several major corporations during the 1930s and 1940s. Companies such as IBM, Ford, and General Motors had significant business interests in Germany and maintained close relationships with the Nazi regime. Some CEOs even met with Adolf Hitler himself, providing him with financial and material support that helped to sustain the Nazi war effort.

The role of these companies in supporting the Nazi regime has been the subject of much controversy and debate. Some argue that their actions were driven purely by profit-seeking motives, while others suggest that they were complicit in the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Regardless of the motives, however, the relationship between these companies and the Nazi regime highlights the potential dangers of close relationships between business leaders and authoritarian governments.

A more recent example is the relationship between the Saudi Arabian government and several major corporations, particularly in the tech industry. Companies such as Uber, SoftBank, and WeWork have all received significant investments from the Saudi government, which has been criticized for its poor human rights record and its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

The relationship between these companies and the Saudi government has been the subject of increasing scrutiny and criticism, with some arguing that it reflects a broader trend of businesses prioritizing profits over human rights and ethical considerations. This has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in corporate decision-making, particularly in cases where businesses have close relationships with governments that are known to violate human rights or engage in other problematic behaviors.

In all of these cases, meetings between CEOs and heads of state played a role in creating or exacerbating major problems for the world. While such meetings can be valuable opportunities for dialogue and engagement, they also pose significant risks and must be approached with caution and careful consideration.

One of the most significant risks of CEOs meeting with heads of state is the potential for conflicts of interest. Such meetings can create opportunities for powerful business interests to influence government policy in ways that benefit their own bottom lines at the expense of broader public interests. This is particularly concerning in cases where companies have significant economic clout or where the government is reliant on certain industries for tax revenues or employment.

Moreover, such meetings can create the perception of impropriety, even if no actual wrongdoing occurs. This can lead to public distrust of both the business community and the government, which can undermine the legitimacy of both. In an age of growing populism and anti-establishment sentiment, this is a particularly dangerous prospect.

Data suggests that the potential for conflicts of interest is not just hypothetical. According to a report by Transparency International, one in four companies that met with the UK government between 2012 and 2014 had engaged in lobbying activities that were not properly disclosed. Similarly, in the US, research by the Center for Responsive Politics found that industries such as finance, pharmaceuticals, and energy spent billions of dollars on lobbying between 1998 and 2016, with many of the largest lobbying efforts targeting key members of Congress and the White House.

Another danger of CEO-head of state meetings is the potential for damage to international relations. Such meetings can be perceived as attempts by businesses to gain special treatment or to interfere in the affairs of other countries. This can create tension between governments and undermine diplomatic efforts to build trust and cooperation.

This risk is particularly acute in cases where businesses operate in sensitive industries such as defense, energy, or natural resources. In such cases, meetings between CEOs and heads of state can be seen as attempts to gain access to strategic resources or to influence foreign policy decisions. This can lead to accusations of neo-colonialism or even espionage, which can damage relationships between countries and harm the interests of both businesses and governments.

Finally, the practice of CEOs meeting with heads of state can contribute to the broader problem of political influence by the wealthy and powerful. In many cases, business leaders have access to resources and networks that are simply not available to ordinary citizens or even to most politicians. This can create a situation where wealthy elites wield disproportionate influence over government policy, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency in decision-making.

While it is important for businesses to have a voice in policy-making, it is equally important to ensure that such influence is transparent and accountable. Governments must take steps to ensure that meetings between CEOs and heads of state are properly disclosed and that potential conflicts of interest are identified and addressed. Similarly, businesses must be transparent about their lobbying activities and must work to ensure that their interactions with the government are consistent with ethical standards and broader public interests.

Louis Brandeis, a former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, once famously said:

“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.”

This quote highlights the idea that transparency in government is essential for accountability and good governance. By shining a light on the actions of government officials and making information easily accessible to the public, citizens can hold their leaders accountable and prevent corruption and abuse of power. To promote this much needed accountability, governments and businesses must work together to ensure that high level interactions between CEOs and heads of states are transparent and consistent with broader public interests. Only then can they ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are properly represented and protected and that any wrongdoings can be rooted out.

Ed.  Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash.