The CEO’s last 100 days: a checklist for chairs
Appointing a CEO is one of the most important decisions a chair and their board ever makes. Many chairs will never have experienced overseeing the transition from one CEO to the next and it can be a daunting task; getting it wrong can have a significant impact on the organisation and reverberate for years.
To help provide guidance, CCE’s Fiona Ash has created a checklist for the CEO’s last 100 days which covers key matters that chairs and their boards should consider when recruiting for the position.
With such a detailed and in-depth resource, drawing on interviews with CEOs and chairs, available literature and our own extensive experience within CCE – it is impossible to capture all of the information in this blog. However, here are the top 3 takeaways:
1. Communication is key
It is important to consider your communication with the outgoing CEO upon receiving the news of their departure and also how you will then communicate this externally. Building in annual succession discussions with the board is a great way of ensuring you’re prepared for such an eventuality and can react positively rather than echoing any disappointment. When considering external communications, be sensitive and agree on a common narrative with the outgoing CEO and board.
This is an important step to get right, read the detailed checklist for more insights.
2. Take Action
The CEO’s final notice period will go by quickly, so ensure you act fast. Ensure plans are in place for the recruitment process, decide on who will be involved and keep the outgoing CEO updated on the process. Agree a job description and consider the knowledge, skills and experience you require.
3. Be prepared
Prepare for the incoming CEO’s arrival to ensure a smooth transition. Prepare an onboarding programme, champion them and their new ideas and interest and encourage the outgoing CEO to communicate with them to share their valuable insights and experience.
Also, be prepared for the last 100 days of the new CEO. This likely isn’t the last time you’ll be going through this process!
To explore the resource in depth and see the full checklist, please visit The chief executive's last 100 days: a Checklist for Chairs webpage.