Managed seamless CEO transition, preserving investor confidence
7/19/2025
Client: Confidential Publicly Traded Company
A planned CEO succession at a major publicly traded company created a moment of uncertainty for investors, employees, and customers. A carefully managed transition was critical to maintaining stability and momentum.
Objective
To manage a CEO transition in a way that ensures a seamless transfer of leadership, maintains stakeholder confidence, and sets the new CEO up for success.
Approach
- Developed a detailed 12-month communications plan for the transition, with distinct phases for the announcement, the transition period, and the new CEO's first 100 days.
- Crafted a narrative that honored the legacy of the outgoing CEO while building excitement for the vision of the incoming leader.
- Managed all internal and external communications, ensuring a consistent message across all channels.
- Orchestrated a 'listening tour' for the incoming CEO to engage with key employees, customers, and investors.
- Secured positive, high-profile media coverage that framed the transition as a strategic evolution, not a moment of risk.
Outcome / Impact
- The company's stock price outperformed its peer group during the transition period, signaling strong investor support.
- Employee engagement scores increased, with a positive reception to the new CEO's vision and leadership style.
- The transition was widely praised in the media as a 'textbook example' of effective succession planning.
Services used
Velthros helped us turn a moment of potential vulnerability into a powerful statement about the strength and stability of our company. Their strategic counsel was invaluable.
Background
A long-serving and highly respected CEO announced his retirement, creating a critical leadership transition for a major public company. The challenge was to manage the succession process in a way that reassured investors, retained key talent, and maintained the company’s strategic momentum.
What we did
We designed a comprehensive communications strategy that covered every aspect of the transition. We worked closely with the board of directors and the incoming and outgoing CEOs to craft a narrative that celebrated the company’s past successes while painting a compelling picture of its future. We managed the announcement process with precision, ensuring that all key stakeholders heard the news in a coordinated and thoughtful way.
Result
The CEO transition was a resounding success. The company’s stock price remained strong, employees embraced the new leadership, and customers felt confident in the company’s direction. The seamless transition was a testament to the power of strategic communications to manage change and build confidence.