Crossword Genius

Far from popular CEO tries to mingle (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

esoteric

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'far' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'popular ceo tries to mingle' is the wordplay.
'ceo tries' can be anagrammed to 'ESOTERIC'.
However, I am unsure how the anagram is indicated.

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for esoteric that I've seen before include "Intelligible only to informed people in coteries" , "Intelligible only with special knowledge" , "Understood by only a few people" , "Secret kind of coteries" , "exclusive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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