Heard from from former colleagues at a company I left last year that massive attrition continues and the CEO got a 50% bonus for 2021.
Based on this, the pattern seems to be this:
Step 1: Land CEO gig.
Step 2: Win the support and trust of the board, shareholders and employees.
Step 3: Begin a cascade of nepotism by hiring former colleagues and subordinates, regardless of competence that will also hire former colleagues and subordinates, regardless of competence (repeat cycle ad nauseum).
Step 4: Set non-public attrition goals which will be fulfilled easily on account of the actions of step 3.
Step 5: With the reduced overhead from attrition and despite operating on a shoestring which the market seems to reflect awareness of via the stagnant stock price (Attrition sounds better than layoffs), post solid numbers for company performance.
Step 6: Profit.
Edit: Formatting