The most valuable asset

I am heartily sick of hearing the "Our people are our most valuable asset" line trotted out by so many company officers and PR flacks. All companies have a CEO and a CFO, most have a COO of some description and an increasing number have a CTO, CIO or a CSO now. Given that "Peopleareourmostvaluableassets," shouldn't that be reflected at Board and Executive level? Has anyone ever heard of a company with a Chief Human Resources Officer who has authority and access equal to that of the CFO or COO?

"The definition of insanity is conducting an experiment over and over, expecting different results." Benjamin Franklin was always so pithy … The thing I love about this definition is that it is pretty much inarguable. Sometimes you need to use the closed questioning method, leaving no wiggle room for the person you are dealing with. A recent conversation I had with a CEO:

"What era are we in?"
"The knowledge era."
"So the true capital of your company is sloshing around in the cranial cavities of your staff?"
"Yes."
"Which would make those people your company's most valuable asset?"
"Yes."
"Indeed, we might go so far as to say that your people are the key to your future success and security?”
“Yes”
“And yet your HR and T&D functions report to the CFO - who has a significant other agenda, a conflict of interest even?”
“Yes.”
“And you keep doing this?”
“Yes.”
“Even though it’s, let's see, what's the word? ... Moronic? Cretinous? ... and ultimately may hamper your future success and security?”
(very small voice) “Yes”
“I’m sorry - I couldn’t hear you there …”
“YES!”
“Well then you’re crazy, aren’t you?”