Why We Should Pay More Attention to Departing CEOs

When news breaks of a CEO succession, much of the attention is
given to the new leader and how they will change the company. But
new research shows that the leave-taking process of the outgoing
chief executive is often mishandled, with negative impacts on
succession and the organization. Rebecca Slan Jerusalim, an
executive director at Russell Reynolds Associates, and Navio Kwok,
a leadership advisor at RRA, say that boards are often surprised
when a CEO gives notice, and they often make that person feel
excluded during the handoff process. The researchers share stories
from the front lines about CEO psychology, best practices for
outgoing leaders and their boards, and broader lessons for
effective transitions. Jerusalim and Kwok wrote the HBR article
"The Vital Role of the Outgoing CEO."