Is your complaint that instead of looking to see "who are my mid-levels who can create a plan", he just assumes by their level that they cannot create a plan? Without detailed knowledge, I think most places hire senior/mid/junior based on exactly the criteria he describes.
Every team is fungible in the long run. If you have someone who is specialized labor, either they handoff to someone who is non-specialized now, or they do it later when they leave the company.
Edit: I think your response to dmak covers this, thanks.
Every team is fungible in the long run. If you have someone who is specialized labor, either they handoff to someone who is non-specialized now, or they do it later when they leave the company.
Edit: I think your response to dmak covers this, thanks.