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The Vital Role of the Outgoing CEO

Zoe Wetherall

Summary.   

All boards aspire to a drama-free CEO succession—to one that not only is proactive and strategic but also positions the organization for future success. The best practices for handling this process are well understood: start early, identify and develop multiple internal candidates, assess their fit with organizational needs, choose the right person, and then thoughtfully onboard the chosen successor.

A version of this article appeared in the July–August 2024 issue of Harvard Business Review.

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