Today at work (in an unrelated field) a number of folks were relating how a particular person has risen through the ranks and become a senior manager - yet never been involved in the day-to-day work at the bottom. That is, has NEVER done the job and been face to face with the customers day in and day out. Not even a few weeks to get the feel of it.
Call me old but you have to have done a job before directing people how to do it.