This is the single most expensive 💸 sentence said in boardrooms today
Spencer Stuart's "The CEO's First Year Isn't a Victory Lap. It's the Board's Next Test" is the most important read for directors right now
The datapoint that should make every chair put their coffee ☕ down:
👉🏼 85% of newly appointed S&P 1500 CEOs in 2025 are 1st timers in a public company CEO role. And Spencer Stuart's own assessment is that half "are destined to underperform their peers" 📉
Half!
Not from lack of talent. From lack of board support in Year 1
The study identifies a 20-point gap between the support directors BELIEVE they are providing & what CEOs say they ACTUALLY experience
Twenty Points 🚨
Board-CEO relationships that "most directors believe they have built robustly" are in reality "pretty thin & fragile, even into the 2nd & 3rd years"
Why does this keep happening? Boards expend enormous energy selecting the CEO — then go silent at exactly the moment the new CEO most needs a thought partner 🔇
→ Spencer Stuart recommends detailed strategy alignment within 6-9 months. "Few boards take a formal approach to overseeing and supporting the CEO's transition"
→ The new CEO's first 30 days should include 1-on-1s with every board member. Active board effort to prep the CEO for the FIRST board meeting is "something we've rarely seen done"
→ The "halo effect" is real. Year 1 performance is often market-bump, not CEO-generated. Boards let honest feedback "go uncommunicated until it is too late"
Internal promotions face MORE transition stress than outsiders — they must reset relationships with former peers who wanted the job
In my CEO transition coaching, this is the most predictive pattern I see. The boards who make the difference treat selection as 20% of their job — and Year 1 support as the other 80%. Structured 30/90/180 day cadence. Real feedback early 🤝🏼
The boards who treat the announcement as the finish line 🏁? They produce the 50% under-performer cohort
❓ My Q for every Board Chair reading this: When your new CEO crosses Day 90 — are you celebrating the hire, or actively coaching the transition?
📣 But don't take my word for it. Take it from a recent CEO client of mine:
💬 “Working with Navid over the past year has been extremely impactful in my first year in my role. He helped me define a clear leadership roadmap and, through tools like Hogan, gain deeper insight into my psychology and ways of working. Our sessions regularly sparked ideas and reflections that continued well beyond the sessions, allowing me to crystallise the key challenges & opportunities I face. Navid’s strength lies in provoking thoughtful reflection rather than providing ready‑made answers. I would highly recommend Navid to other executives who are looking to transition successfully & keen to maximise their leadership impact”
#Boards #CEOTransitions #MasteringExecutiveTransitions #ETQ
About Navid Nazemian
Ranked as the world’s #1 Executive Coach by CEO Today for the third year running, I partner with senior leaders to navigate complexity, accelerate performance, and lead through critical transitions. Over the past two decades, I’ve supported hundreds of executives in overcoming unproductive thinking and solving their most complex leadership challenges—helping their organizations build world-class cultures and create lasting value.
If you’d like to reflect on a leadership challenge, an upcoming transition, or how I might support you, you’re very welcome to reply directly to this email.
You can also:
1. Connect with me on LinkedIn for additional leadership insights
2. Explore my international best-selling book "Mastering Executive Transitions: The Definitive Guide" described by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith as “THE ultimate guide to executive transitions to help leaders achieve their highest potential”
3. Enrol in my newly launched e-Learning programme Mastering Leadership Transitions - my transition methodology in a self-paced format for leaders at every level
4. Work with me on a per-session basis via EveryExpert - a flexible alternative to a full coaching engagement, starting with a complimentary 15-minute Chemistry Call
What's Next? More insights on leadership, transitions, and executive effectiveness are coming your way next week. I’d genuinely value your perspective—feel free to share your reflections by replying to this email. I read every response.
Navid
