Chief Strategy Officers: The Line Forms to Your Left

Pepper-Hamilton, HQ'd in Philadelphia, which I've always been irrationally fond of, becomes the latest firm I'm aware of to appoint a Chief Strategy Officer—a litigation partner whose bio highlights his fascination with issues at the intersection of law and economics, an ardor I fell victim to long long ago.   He sounds as if he might potentially be qualified, at least if raw intellectual horsepower counts (and yes, it does):  a magna cum laude grad of Harvard Law School and editor of the law review. 

At least as interesting as the creation of the "CSO" job was this announcement that Pepper-Hamilton is moving towards a corporate managerial structure:

"Pepper recently restructured leadership responsibilities to reflect a more practical approach to firm management. It created a five-member core management team, the Operating Committee, that is responsible for day-to-day management of the firm and for initiating strategic planning and growth opportunities. The Operating Committee will work under the direction of the Executive Committee, which functions in a capacity similar to a corporate board of directors."

So what is this all about?  A recognition that if the firm wants to expand in size and geographic footprint (which it unabashedly says it does), you need at least one senior leader devoted to that strategy.  Give them great credit.  The proof will now be, as always, in the pudding.