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Jeffrey Kindler, the CEO of Pfizer, the world's largest drug-maker, has unexpectedly quit, citing the "incredibly demanding" nature of his job. Although Pfizer suffered mixed
fortunes during Kindler's four-plus year tenure and its stock price has slipped by 35 percent, the sudden nature of Kindler's departure has commentators speculating what prompted
his exit: HE WAS EXHAUSTED: Running Pfizer "doesn't sound like fun," says Tracy Corrigan at _The Daily Telegraph_, and "Kindler, to his credit, has been honest enough to
say so." Saying his job was "extremely demanding" on a personal level is as close to straight talk as any "statement rewritten by corporate PR advisers can be." I
call that a "touchingly human and unpretentious" move. "Pfizer boss admits exhaustion and quits. How very refreshing" SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get
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inbox. HE BET ON THE WRONG STRATEGY: Kindler made the "brave wager" that Pfizer should "eschew big acquisitions and bet on its research laboratories," says Matthew Herper
at _Forbes_. But "the strategy failed." Pfizer then bought rival Wyeth for $68 billion, but the combined company still hasn't come up with a new drug to rock the market —
specifically, a replacement for cholesterol drug Lipitor, whose patent expires next year. Out of ideas, Kindler handed over the reins to someone else. "Pfizer CEO retires suddenly"
THIS INCOMPETENT CEO WAS SHOWN THE DOOR: Kindler "was almost certainly pushed out," says Douglas A. McIntyre at _24/7 Wall St_, given the fact that his successor, Ian C. Read, was
promoted from within (a questionable choice; Read also helped oversee the "botched integration of Wyeth"). Now that some corporations are seeing a surge in earnings, it seems
boards think they can "afford to replace incompetent CEOs." Expect Kindler to be the first of many. "Pfizer CEO gone, who is next?" A free daily email with the biggest
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