'If there are particularly exceptional contributors ... I will review and approve those exceptions directly'
If this were truly limited to only the executive team, it's an existing point-to-point connection. No routing or extra direction necessary
...and the upsides cloud my judgement as to whether it's a net positive from the company's perspective.
While all the good I've seen for myself, it's also been a nightmare for managing the small group of people I have. I had to terminate TWO people because we discovered they were also working a 2nd job, and multiple people have had trouble focusing on work while at home.
Some people did great - others didn't. ...and there's no question that the company culture overall has suffered. I'm not saying I'm definitely for or against it - but I wish people would stop taking absolutist positions on this debate.
It's very easy for this to become a heated thing. I too wish discussions on this would trend away from absolutism. There's too much gray in the world for this to be productive.
I find a possible motivator in that is there being a sort of imbalance with preference -- if we assume whoever 'wins' sets the tone for the future.
If those who love the office get their way, the remote lovers (more likely) concede more than the opposite.
The remote people don't need other people to be remote. Just accommodate by using Slack, Git, whatever. The in-office people however do 'need' people to also join them on-site for the benefits of it to truly realize
(As much as I hate words like synergy, it really is sometimes easier to just hash things out in person)