In the US business leaders are rock stars, celebrities who are lionized and followed for their ability to make money (Sheldon Adelson, Sands Las Vegas), lead complex companies, (Lee Iacocca, Chrysler) inspire innovation ( Steve Jobs, Apple Computer) or even have shameless affairs (Jack Welch, General Electric).

FORBES: Huawei To US: 'Butt Out Of Our Business'

The job description on the ad said Valve was "frustrated" by the lack of innovation in computer hardware and wanted to change that state of affairs.

BBC: Game maker Valve Software recruits hardware experts

"If we hadn't been able to raise the level, you wouldn't have been able to sell a single PC that's on the market today, " said Dan Hoydysh, director of trade, public policy and government affairs at Unisys and co-chairman of the Computer Coalition for Responsible Exports.

CNN: Turning the U.S. into a super-computer power