What are professionals for?

Apart from many uses that organizations have for professional mangers/COOs/CEOs, one use came to my notice in the transition from Good Times to the Bad Times of last year.

Before September 2008, in India at least, the owners used to personally appear on CNBC et al, glorifying the quarterly/yearly results and linking it to their great vision and strategic thinking.

One month after September 2008 and lo and behold: It was the professionals who were facing the media at the results time, squirming in their seats and tight neck ties, mumbling excuses regarding the environment !

DO WE NEED TO SAY ANY THING MORE??