Crossword Genius

Heartless leader becomes cook (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chef

'cook' is the definition.
(chef is a kind of cook)

'heartless leader' is the wordplay.
'heartless' means to remove the middle letters.
'leader' becomes 'chief' (chief is a kind of leader).
'chief' with its middle removed is 'CHEF'.

'becomes' is the link.

(Other definitions for chef that I've seen before include "Head cook in a restaurant" , "Saucier" , "French master" , "Hotel cook" , "One who prepares courses" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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