Boss calls 200 employees for work meeting; ends up saying 'God' appointed him CEO. 'He was the previous CEO's son'

What was meant to be a standard company-wide meeting quickly became a weird experience for more than 200 employees, according to a post shared on Reddit. The meeting, held over a Zoom call several years ago, was scheduled to discuss upcoming project priorities and work-related plans. Employees logged in expecting updates on timelines and business goals. Instead, they were met with an opening address that left many shocked and confused.

The Reddit post, shared by a former employee, explained that the company was not religious in nature and had no faith-based mission. Despite this, the CEO began the meeting by expressing his belief that God had personally guided him into his role as chief executive. The statement, delivered before any discussion of work matters, immediately shifted the tone of the call.

CEO’s claim and the company background

According to the post, the CEO also happened to be the son of the company’s previous chief executive. This detail, revealed later in the discussion, became a major point of concern for employees and commenters alike. Many felt the religious framing of his leadership, combined with his family connection, raised questions about merit, professionalism, and decision-making at the top level of the company.




The original poster noted that the announcement had a visible impact on morale. What was supposed to be a meeting about projects instead became a moment that caused discomfort across teams. Several employees reportedly began reconsidering their future at the company soon after.

Fallout and employee reactions

The impact was not limited to awkwardness during the call. The Reddit user stated that dozens of employees eventually left the organisation following the incident. For many, the concern was not about personal faith, but about introducing religious beliefs into leadership messaging at a non-religious workplace. Employees felt this blurred professional boundaries and created uncertainty about how decisions might be made going forward.



In the comments section, other Reddit users said they were not surprised by the story. Some pointed out that similar attitudes are common among powerful leaders, who often view their success as destiny rather than the result of collective effort. Others criticised what they saw as arrogance, suggesting that such thinking ignores the contributions of workers who help build a company.



Several commenters drew parallels to historical ideas like the “divine right of kings,” arguing that framing leadership as God-given can be a way to discourage criticism or accountability. Others focused on the nepotism angle, joking that divine appointment seemed to conveniently align with the CEO being the founder’s son.

A few users shared their own experiences of managers openly linking their corporate roles to religious belief, while others described the behaviour as narcissistic or disconnected from reality. Some users suggested that openly expressing such views in a professional setting should raise red flags about leadership judgment.