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  • October 14, 2019
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review

The CEO's Guide to Retirement

By: Bill George
  • Format:Print
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Abstract

Some CEOs remain in the role too long, hurting investors, employees, and their own legacy. The author sees a frequent reason for that: CEOs don’t know how to identify the optimal time to retire, and they procrastinate because they can’t imagine what they will do after they leave the job. In this article he presents questions that chief executives can ask themselves to determine the right time for an exit; a step-by-step process for stepping down; and an overview of the options a former CEO may find fulfilling.

Keywords

CEO; Executive Retirement; Retirement; Decision Making; Planning

Citation

George, Bill. "The CEO's Guide to Retirement." Harvard Business Review 97, no. 6 (November–December 2019): 64–68.
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About The Author

William W. George

General Management
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