Mastering Chief Executive Succession
Across New Zealand and Australia
Appointing a Chief Executive (CE) is the most important decision a board will ever make, and the cost of getting this wrong is huge in terms of the negative impact to the organisation and its people. Done well, it is an opportunity to renew leadership, reinforce culture, and reposition the organisation for the future. However, an equally important and more difficult decision is when to end a CE’s tenure. Yet, despite its importance, boards often under invest in the process and CE succession planning is often reactive and done under tight timelines. Over the past few months, we have engaged in deep conversations with more than 60 governance professionals and CEs across New Zealand and Australia. These individuals generously shared their experiences, reflections, and lessons learned from leading or being part of CE ransitions in listed companies, private enterprises, founder-led organisations, Crown entities, and not-for-profit organisations. We have blended our learnings from these conversations with our own experience as a firm – having advised on over 200 CE successions over the past 20 years. This report offers boards a practical framework for CE succession - from early-stage planning, candidate selection and evaluation, to onboarding and post-appointment integration. At the same time, we appreciate that every CE transition is unique and there is no standard approach. By providing a menu of ideas and showcasing what has worked for many organisations, we hope this report serves as a catalyst for better conversations, stronger governance, and more successful CE leadership transitions. CE succession is not just about replacing a leader - it is an opportunity to shape the future of the organisation.