Baloney. This is just CEO propanganda. Easily, 50% or more, of middle
managers could do the CEO job. There is nothing difficult or special about
it. Simply because management is a pyramid with one job at the top does not
mean that the top job is so special that only a few are capable of doing it.
In the computer industry most engineers could be adequate CEOs, but few CEOs
can be even mediocre engineers.

Then we should see saleries drop pretty fast. It sounds like you feel
you are qualified to do the job. Let the board of directors know that
you are willing to work for a fraction of what the current CEO is
working for. If you are as qualfied as you think you are you should
have no problem getting the job.

-Robert