Okay. First things first: I love that CEO comparison. It cracked me up. But in that scenario an alien invasion is about to start or a comet fragment is about to crash into the earth. No survivors! They could and should complain afterwards, because they would die, too. It is that, what they don't get. Therefore removing them from there position and trowing them into jail as the first and second step, would be sufficient. And If they don't stop making trouble from inside their cell (by communicating with the outside), I might consider killing them off as necessary. Don't begin with the last step first. XP
Also: I see that by simply removing some of them, some might instigate a rebellion. But wouldn't they also start one, if you begin to execute people, under the pretense "The king has lost his mind!"?