# CEO succession: editable board planning workbook Organization: ____________________ Workbook date: ____________________ Board chair / lead director: ____________________ Committee lead: ____________________ Version and access owner: ____________________ Board approval date / decision record: ____________________ Next board review date: ____________________ This is a planning template, not legal advice or a required timetable. The board must fill every owner, deadline, review date, threshold, and approval field. Thirty-, sixty-, and ninety-day milestones are illustrative onboarding checkpoints. ## Board mandate Strategic context and CEO outcomes: ____________________ Board-reserved decisions: ____________________ Committee assessment responsibilities: ____________________ Conflict declarations and management: ____________________ Legal / governance adviser: ____________________ Approval and escalation process: ____________________ ## Emergency succession and interim authority Activation circumstances: ____________________ Authorized convenor and deputy: ____________________ Interim candidate and confirmed availability date: ____________________ Backup candidate and confirmed availability date: ____________________ Appointment approval reference: ____________________ Interim assignment start and review / expiry condition: ____________________ | Decision area | Delegated authority | Limit / condition | Escalation owner | Board approval | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spending and commitments | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Signing and external representation | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | People and leadership appointments | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Risk, controls, and crisis response | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Board-reserved strategic decisions | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ## Planned succession role scorecard Strategic horizon chosen by board: ____________________ Operating scope and constraints: ____________________ Outcomes the next CEO must own: ____________________ Evidence standard and assessment method: ____________________ Internal / external candidate process: ____________________ ## Candidate readiness matrix Use consented candidate identifiers and job-relevant skills. Do not record protected traits or unrelated personal information. Readiness is a judgment supported by evidence, not a promise or automatic promotion. | Candidate identifier | Job-relevant skill / outcome | Dated firsthand evidence | Scope / context | Gap / uncertainty | Readiness: demonstrated / developing / untested | Development action | Owner | Deadline | Next review | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ____ | Strategy execution | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | ____ | Financial and capital judgment | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | ____ | Risk and controls | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | ____ | Leadership-bench development | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | ____ | Board and stakeholder communication | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | Candidate development discussion / agreement date: ____________________ Stretch assignment and expected observable result: ____________________ Coaching / sponsor and resources: ____________________ Reassessment evidence and date: ____________________ ## Confidentiality and consent Approved viewers and access controls: ____________________ Candidate permission scope and date: ____________________ Current-employer contact restriction / separate authorization: ____________________ Retention or deletion policy and accountable owner: ____________________ Disclosure adviser and escalation contact: ____________________ ## Phase action register ### Board mandate Action: Approve succession oversight, committee remit, conflicts process, and review cadence Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Board-approved mandate and documented decision rights Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Emergency continuity Action: Confirm available interim leader, deputies, and activation process Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Availability confirmation and board-approved emergency plan Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Interim authority Action: Document spending, signing, people, risk, and escalation authority Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Approved delegation schedule with limits and review or expiry conditions Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Planned role definition Action: Agree future strategy, CEO outcomes, and job-relevant selection criteria Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Approved role scorecard and evidence requirements Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Candidate readiness Action: Assess internal and external candidates consistently against the scorecard Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Dated readiness matrix with firsthand evidence and remaining gaps Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Development Action: Assign stretch work, coaching, and specific evidence milestones Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Development plans with measurable outcomes and candidate agreement Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Confidentiality and consent Action: Confirm access, candidate permissions, retention, and contact restrictions Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Restricted-access record and documented permission scope Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Board selection Action: Review alternatives and risks; approve the appointment and transition Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Board decision record and approved transition conditions Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Communications Action: Assign owners, approval, sequence, and contingency messages by stakeholder Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Approved stakeholder plan coordinated with legal and disclosure advisers Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### 30-day onboarding Action: Confirm operating baseline, decision rights, and stakeholder listening Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Agreed baseline measures and completed priority stakeholder meetings Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### 60-day onboarding Action: Agree priority choices, leadership gaps, and operating cadence Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Board-aligned priorities and action plans with accountable owners Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### 90-day onboarding Action: Review initial execution against agreed outcomes and update support Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Board review of baseline comparison, risks, and next-quarter commitments Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ### Ongoing refresh Action: Review succession coverage after strategy, availability, or leadership changes Owner assigned by board: ____________________ Deadline set by board: ____________________ Evidence required: Updated emergency plan, readiness matrix, and next review date Evidence location / actual result: ____________________ Status: ____________________ Next review date set by board: ____________________ Dependencies / approval needed: ____________________ ## Selection and board approval Alternatives considered: ____________________ Evidence supporting preferred candidate: ____________________ Unresolved risks and mitigation: ____________________ Conflicts and recusals: ____________________ Appointment approval date / minutes reference: ____________________ Approved transition terms and owners: ____________________ ## Stakeholder communications plan Coordinate timing and disclosure obligations with qualified advisers. Fill each owner and approval field; do not treat the row order as a mandatory sequence. | Stakeholder | Message purpose | Accountable owner | Approver | Channel | Board-set date / trigger | Contingency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Incoming and outgoing CEO | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Leadership team and employees | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Investors / shareholders | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Customers and partners | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | Regulators / lenders, if applicable | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ## 30 / 60 / 90-day onboarding outcomes Board-approved start date: ____________________ | Checkpoint | Board-set review date | Measurable outcome | Baseline | Target | Evidence | Owner | Result / corrective action | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 30 days: listen and establish baseline | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | 60 days: align priorities and team actions | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | | 90 days: review execution and risk | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | Support decisions / resources approved by board: ____________________ Next-quarter commitments and owners: ____________________ Emergency plan refresh date and owner: ____________________ ## Source for further reading PwC: How the best boards approach CEO succession planning https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/governance-insights-center/library/ceo-succession-planning.html