2 Why do so many organizations fail at CEO succession?
3 How to measure a CEO’s success?
4 What qualities make a great CEO?
5 When is the right time to change the CEO?
6 What does a good CEO succession planning process look like?
7 What is the role of the board in CEO succession?
8 What is the role of the CEO?
9 How to take into account different organizational contexts?
10 Which candidates have the best chances for success?
11 How to develop – and use – a good CEO profile?
12 How to identify, assess, develop, and prepare potential CEOs?
13 How to make – and communicate – a final choice?
14 How to set an effective governance framework for the new CEO?
15 How to organize the handover?
16 What about the outgoing CEO?
17 How to retain the runners-up?
18 What to do in cases of unplanned succession?
19 How to manage the replacement of larger-than-life CEOs?
20 How can AI improve CEO succession?
21 How do we know we got it right?
Biography
Stanislav Shekshnia is a professor at INSEAD, where he directs Leading from the Chair, Aspiring Directors, and Advanced Board development programs. His research concentrates on effective corporate governance and leadership. Shekshnia is the author, co-author, and editor of 11 books, including Leading a Board, second edition (2021), CEO School (2018), and Athletic CEOs (2018), and more than 50 articles. Since 2001, Professor Shekshnia has been an independent chair and director at public and private companies in France, the Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the USA. In the last 25 years, he has advised dozens of companies on CEO succession and has educated thousands of board members and executives on the subject.
“CEO succession is the board’s most important responsibility, and this book delivers the clarity and rigor the topic has long needed. By blending research with real-world examples, it significantly increases the likelihood of selecting the right CEO while offering a roadmap grounded in best-in-class practice. I only wish this book had existed when I first became a board chair—it is surprising that this subject has gone underexplored for so long. Bluntly put: this is a must-read for every board chair and board member. We can all continue to learn how to plan and execute CEO succession more effectively, and this book is an invaluable guide.”
Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae, Board Chair of Finnair, Posti and BoConcept
“Stanislav Shekshnia approaches leadership not as a mere theoretical concept, but as a discipline influenced by real decisions, genuine responsibility, and the tangible consequences of those decisions. His book underscores that CEO transition is far from a technical procedure; it is an issue of institutional maturity and stewardship. The challenge lies not in selecting the ‘best’ executive for the present but in ensuring the organization's future beyond the tenure of any single leader. Shekshnia expertly addresses an issue that is paramount on every board’s agenda, yet rarely articulated with such clarity. For board members, owners, and families, this book is not just a read but a critical guide for those who value continuity and long-term sustainability."
Murat Ülker, former Chair of Yıldız Holding
“Having worked with thousands of founders and boards globally, I’ve seen firsthand how leadership transitions can either compound value—or destroy it. This book treats CEO succession not as a one-off event, but as a strategic capability. It is thoughtful, evidence-based, and unusually honest about the human dynamics involved. A valuable guide for anyone building companies meant to last.”
Magnus Grimeland, Founder & CEO, Antler
