The Lifecycle of a CEO

Outline

The Lifecycle of a CEO (2023) follows the journey of chief executives from the years before they get the job to the moment they hand it over. Based on research into hundreds of leaders, Claudius Hildebrand and Robert Stark describe the distinct stages of a CEO’s tenure, the challenges that come with each, and what boards and leaders can do to succeed. The book offers practical guidance on leadership at the top.

• A CEO's journey starts years before the job begins, so preparation for the role matters long before the title arrives.
• A CEO's tenure moves through five distinct stages, and each stage brings its own challenges.
• Staying effective means sustaining performance, avoiding complacency, and adapting as the role changes over time.
• The authors base their guidance on research into hundreds of leaders rather than on a single career story.
• Boards play a part too, and the book shows what they can do to help a CEO succeed.

Claudius Hildebrand and Robert Stark are senior advisers at the global leadership consulting firm Spencer Stuart, where they work with boards and chief executives on leadership, succession, and performance. Their research draws on data from hundreds of CEOs over many years. Together they wrote The Lifecycle of a CEO.