MIT Sloan Management Review Article on The CEO Is Leaving. Now What?

An increasing number of CEOs are deciding to leave their posts on their own terms in the wake of COVID-19, for factors ranging from burnout to wanting to move on to the next stage of their career and lives. Others are simply coming to the end of their agreed-upon term in office. Most want to minimize disruption to the company and preserve a positive legacy, but best practices on how to navigate the last 100 days of a CEO’s tenure are an under-researched topic. Beyond the first step of the CEO and board agreeing to an orderly transition, including timing and financial terms, how should the CEOs and boards proceed?

A CEO’s last 100 days typically can be divided into three phases: preannouncement, when only the CEO, chair, and board are aware of the planned departure; a post-announcement phase, when the departure has been announced but the business carries on much as before; and a pre-transition period, when a successor has been picked but is not yet in office.

About the Author

David Gillespie heads up the U.K. and Ireland businesses of consultancy Oliver Wyman in London and leads its financial services practice there. Tony Simpson is a partner in Oliver Wyman’s communications, media, and technology practice as well as its people and organizational performance practice.