New CEO: first 90 days planner

Use the early months of a transition to discuss expectations, responsibilities, the handover, and the developing relationship.

Two pages
Fillable PDF
Free for boards and their staff

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When this helps

A new chief executive is arriving, and both sides want a sound beginning.

A board and a new CEO may use the same words while expecting different things. A useful transition plan makes those expectations discussable and gives the quiet handover details somewhere to go.

What’s inside

A shared beginning, beyond the handover.

01
A shared starting point
Discuss the mandate, the priorities, and the authority the CEO needs to get started.
02
A practical handover
Keep commitments, relationships, records, and unresolved issues visible, with someone responsible for each next step.
03
A conversation about what is changing
Use the early months to revisit assumptions, adjust support, and agree the next period together.

Putting it to work

Make room for the expectations on both sides.

Compare what each side expects
The incoming CEO and chair discuss the mandate, early priorities, and the support needed to get started.
Bring the handover knowledge together
Ask the people closest to the work about commitments, relationships, and unresolved matters that need a clear owner.
Return to the conversation
Revisit the plan as the new CEO learns more. Adjust the timing and support to the transition you are actually having.

Download the planner

Start the relationship with a shared picture.

Use the planner to open the conversations that matter in the early months. Make the timing work for your organization.

A practical starting point for your board
Free for boards and their staff