Reports

CEO Succession: 10 Pitfalls Boards Must Avoid— and the CHRO Practices That Help

We, CES, in collaboration with HRPA, have completed a new study grounded in board director interviews, investor insights, and national survey data. The study offers a candid look at why CEO succession planning breaks down—and how CHROs can help ensure the process is deliberate, inclusive, and aligned with long-term strategy.

Whether you’re in the midst of a transition or preparing for what’s ahead, this timely resource helps make your succession planning more thoughtful, more human, and less chaotic. Your future CEO—and your board—will thank you.

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Original Research from the Center for Executive Succession

June 2025

Reports

CEO Succession: 10 Pitfalls Boards Must Avoid— and the CHRO Practices That Help

Original Research from the Center for Executive Succession

CEO Succession: 10 Pitfalls Boards Must Avoid— and the CHRO Practices That Help

2024 HR@Moore Survey of Chief Human Resource Officers – Building and Moving Talent

The Changing Nature of Leadership in an Artificial Intelligence World

2024 CHRO Survey Report – The CHRO Role in 2024

2024 CHRO Survey Report – Maintaining Workplace Culture in a Time of Uncertainty, Change and Division

CHRO Principles: Responsible use of AI in HR

2023 CHRO Survey Report – The CHRO’s Role in ESG

2023 CHRO Survey Report – Navigating the Political and Cultural Landscape

2023 CHRO Survey Report – The CHRO Role in 2023

2022 CHRO Survey Report – The Current State of CEO Succession Planning Practices

2022 CHRO Survey Report – ESG Trends

2022 CHRO Survey Report – The Chief HR Officer Role

2022 CHRO Survey Report – Managing High Potentials and Executives

2021 CHRO Survey Report – Organizational Responses to Say-on-Pay Votes

2021 CHRO Survey Report – The CHRO Role and CEO Generativity

2021 CHRO Survey Report – The Impact of the 2020 Crises on Executive and Board Dynamics

2021 CHRO Survey Report – The Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

2020 CHRO Survey Report – Building the High-Performing Executive Leadership Team

Virtual Board Meetings: Reverberations Resulting From COVID-19

2020 CHRO Survey – The Chief HR Officer Role

2020 CHRO Survey – Building Diversity into the Talent Pipeline for Senior Operating Roles

The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Executive Succession

2019 CHRO Survey – Building the Board

2019 CHRO Survey – Building the Executive Leadership Team

Managing Mergers and Acquisitions: Perspectives from Human Resources

2019 CHRO Survey – The CHRO and Culture

In Search of the Perfect Leader: Selecting the Next CEO

2018 CHRO Survey – The Impact of CEO and Board HR Expertise

2018 CHRO Survey – The CHRO and the Board

2018 CHRO Survey – The Chief Human Resource Officer: Exploring the Counselor, Confidante, and Coach Role

2017 CHRO Survey — Inside the C-Suite: The CEO, the Board, and the ELT

2017 CHRO Survey — CFO and CHRO Succession: Comparing and Contrasting the Roles

2017 CHRO Survey — Diversity in CEO Succession Pools: Present State, Past Obstacles, and Future Solutions

The Chief HR Officer’s Role in CEO Succession: The View from the Board

2016 CHRO Survey — CEO Narcissism, CEO Humility, and C-Suite Dynamics

CEO Succession Success: A Board Perspective

Business Talent Challenges

2016 CHRO Survey — The Changing Chief Human Resources Officer Role

2016 CHRO Survey — Current Practices in CEO Succession

2015 CHRO Survey — C-Suite Succession Failures: Causes, Effects and Prevention

2015 CHRO Survey — The Chief HR Officer Role

2015 CHRO Survey — Building the C-Suite Talent Pipeline

The Increasing Importance of External CEO Hires

2014 CHRO Survey — CHRO Succession

2014 CHRO Survey — CEO Assessment and Onboarding

2014 CHRO Survey — Impact of ACA on Employment Strategies

2012 CHRO Survey — HR in the C-Suite

2013 CHRO Survey — Critical Role of CHROs in CEO Succession

2011 CHRO Survey — Building Organizational, Functional and Personal Talent

2010 CHRO Survey — From Bunker to Building

2009 CHRO Survey — The CHRO: Shifting Roles and Challenges