NACD The Art of Directorship: CEO Succession

Complimentary for Corporate Members
$199 Individual Members | $495 Nonmembers

This Art of Directorship course provides directors with an advanced, nuanced, in-the-trenches consideration of the board's role in planning for the succession of a chief executive officer, and in positioning that new CEO for success. For a sneak peek at the course and a sample of its content, please enjoy this preview video.

By the end of this course, you should be able to take the following actions:

1. Identify NACD's guidelines for boards on when it is appropriate to discuss CEO succession planning among company leaders and the board.

2. Identify ways to facilitate CEO succession planning discussions among the board.

3. Identify opportunities for the board and company leaders to consider CEO succession in the context of company strategy.

4. Recognize risks in the CEO succession process.

5. Recall and identify the intangible leadership qualities, which NACD recommends boards assess in CEO candidates.

6. Identify recommended strategies for a successful CEO transition.

7. Differentiate between financial and nonfinancial metrics that may be used to set CEO compensation.

8. Recall recommendations for how directors can position a new CEO for success.

In the event of technical difficulties while navigating this course, please email virtual@NACDonline.org.

Read our virtual learning FAQs.

Course Format

This course is divided into seven sections, each of which focuses on a different issue faced by boards when planning for, and dealing with, CEO succession:

1. When Should Boards Discuss CEO Succession?

2. How Does CEO Succession Tie Into Strategy?

3. How Does CEO Succession Planning Relate to Human-Capital Strategy?

4. How Can the Board Mitigate Risk in Succession Planning?

5. What Intangible Qualities Should Boards Assess in CEO Candidates?

6. What Responsibilities Does the Board Have in the Transition Process?

7. How Can Relationship Building Benefit New CEOs?

Each section of the course includes experienced commentary from NACD's director faculty, links to additional tools and resources you may find useful, and opportunities to benchmark your experiences against those of other directors who responded to recent NACD surveys.

As mentioned in the preview video, this course is an up-to-date companion to two major NACD reports: a 2018 brief on CEO Succession Planning by NACD's Nominating and Governance Committee Chair and Risk Oversight Advisory Council, and NACD's 2014 report, Success at the Top: CEO Evaluation and Succession. It is recommended that you have read those reports before you take this course; you'll get more out of this course if you do.

At the end of the course, you will be directed to take a short exam based on these learning objectives. You must pass that exam in order to earn credit from NACD for completing the course. It will take you about one hour to complete each of the sections, although you do not need to finish the course in a single sitting. Rather, when you return the course will resume where you last left off.

Accreditation

This program will award 3 NACD credits toward NACD Directorship Certification^®/Board Leadership Fellowship.

Payment & Cancellation Policy

NACD accepts Visa, Mastercard^®, and American Express^®. Checks, payable to NACD, must be received before the User can begin the course. NACD will refund the fees paid by User for the course(s) only if (1) there is a material defect or technical problem causing a prolonged delay in completion of the course(s) and (2) NACD is unable to rectify such material defect or technical problem within ten (10) business days after receipt of such notification. Notifications and written refund requests should be submitted by electronic mail to Registration@NACDonline.org.