---
id: "entity-larry-ellison"
type: "entity"
source_timestamps: ["§ Choose the Right Model"]
tags: ["founder", "case-study"]
related: ["framework-founder-role-archetypes", "claim-chair-role-mismatch"]
entityType: "person"
canonicalName: "Larry Ellison"
aliases: []
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-122-leading-after-founder"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/01/leading-after-the-founder"
sourceTitle: "Leading After the Founder"
---
# Larry Ellison

Co-founder of Oracle. Cited as the example of the **"Founder to functional role"** archetype in [[framework-founder-role-archetypes]]. He stepped down as CEO in 2014 to become CTO (and executive chairman), remaining deeply involved in product and technology strategy while technically reporting to the new CEO.

Like [[entity-bill-gates]], Ellison is a counterexample to a strict reading of [[claim-chair-role-mismatch]]: a functional/executive-chair role can channel a founder's strengths productively when trust and boundaries are high.