Kirkman exits partnership.

• Position: Triad

In early September, Don Kirkman insisted that he was comfortable in his new role as the No. 2 person at the Piedmont Triad Partnership, the Greensboro-based nonprofit he had run for 10 years before being demoted. Sixteen days later--after last month's issue of BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA had gone to the printer with a story about how well the transition was going--he resigned, effective Oct. 31. The partnership, which recruits industry to the 12-county region, isn't replacing him.

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What happened? Kirkman now says he had always planned to re-evaluate his new role as chief operating officer after David Powell, who took over Aug. 23, had been CEO long enough to set a vision for it "It was always understood that once he was in place, there would be a discussion about the future of the organization that would impact my decision."

While there were no specific conflicts with the new boss, Kirkman says his presence might have hindered Powell's efforts to make changes. "It was clear that it's real hard to move in a new direction when the architect of the prior direction is in the office next door." He says he wasn't pushed out, but Powell agreed that his decision to leave was best for the partnership.

The decision to hire a CEO and demote Kirkman--though allowing him to keep his CEO salary of at least $231,848 a year--came after a merger of the partnership's board in February with the executive...