The View | New world awaits returning Bloomberg
As billionaire and ex-mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg goes back to run the information empire he founded, the question is, does it need him?
News that Michael Bloomberg is returning to run the company he founded and bears his name is fascinating on many levels.
First, and most obviously, it raises the question of whether it is really such a smart idea to return to a job that has been more than adequately filled by others since he departed to become Mayor of New York.
Second, there is the wider question of whether entrepreneurs who have a knack for spotting market opportunities and turning them into flourishing businesses are necessarily the right people to undertake the hard slog of keeping these businesses going and improving them.
Third, some may question whether a business leader known for his strength of personality (this euphemism is generally employed as a polite way of describing someone who can be an aggressive bully) is suited to run a sprawling financial information empire that thrives by allowing individuals to take the initiative.
Fourth, some may ask whether it is really such a great idea to bring back a 72-year-old guy to resume the reins of a job that requires energy levels of a younger man.
Let's deal with the last point first. Michael Bloomberg is fit and shows few signs of diminished capability. Being 72 years old today sure as hell isn't like being that age just a few decades ago. Nowadays people live longer and retain their working parts with greater ease. Were it otherwise the business world would need to launch a purge of iconic leaders such as Warren Buffett, Rupert Murdoch and here in Hong Kong most of the biggest companies would be requiring new bosses.