What makes remarks like this so disrespectful is that you know they hold a much deeper, personal meaning, but they are expressed in such a dry, professional, and seemingly assertive way that you are forced to smile while, at the same time, you're being openly insulted.
Executive presence is nothing more than a value judgment based on the way you present yourself or speak. They are basically telling you that you don't look the part, and that they won't give you roles that fit that part.
Maybe it is something you can improve; maybe it isn't.
Of course management has the right to decide who'll occupy those roles, but it stings nonetheless.
If one wants to be successful in corporate, one has to find the right, HR-approved ways of saying "I hate you", "I'm going to succeed at this regardless", and "When I get there, you'll be the first person I'll fire if you're not already gone by then".
I think we've all been told something that later turned out not to be true. Or we were told that we weren't fit for a role we were totally fit for. Not everybody has the vision, and you can't blame it. To me, you've got to go with what feels right for you. One should never reject an opportunity to learn and should always remain humble, but nobody can tell you that you lack something and that you will lack it forever. They simply can't know that.
What do you think this word salad actually meant? Do you think this employee still has a chance of escalating within this company, or should he start looking for another job that gives him the opportunity to learn some 'Executive presence'?