Most recently Greg Hutchins, former chief executive of Tomkins, springs to mind. His corporate derring-do in the 1980s never made him a tabloid name. Recent alleged abuse of the corporate expense account did. Fifteen minutes of fame indeed. It is when the chips are down that the mettle of the entrepreneur is revealed.
Fear of failure is a powerful motivating force.
The actions of executives are often best understood through an analysis of the possible consequences of cock-up rather than of success. In the quoted company arena this is manifested in corporate paranoia about falling share prices. More sellers than buyers is interpreted as disapproval of a company's strategy, a negative view of its prospects, and a vote against its management. Well, you know the story. They are also prone to introspection and, as a consequence, fail to recognise the broader economic and market forces beyond their control.