Those who criticize the CEO should reflect that like he, they too are only human. Are you working in a blame free (a ‘just’ or tolerant) environment? Whilst at the workface we have CRM (cockpit/crew resource management), but at the management level CRM is corporate resource management. Would those in today’s operating ranks who aspire to become senior management have done any better? For those who criticize from within the airline or industry; what did you do to prevent the accident, what did you know of the underlying circumstances, what safety reports were filed, etc, etc. This was an ‘industry’ accident, the result of which identified many issues that we must all learn from.
New people in an organisation, airline, national authority, or government, would not necessarily provide an instant resolution to the problems, particularly if the core issues are systemic or cultural (organisation). It is the individuals within an airline / organisation that form the organisation, and they create and operate their system. If the CEOs departure was due to the accident, then what other resignations can we expect from the authority or the governments involved?