Why don't CEO's have term limits like boards? Really, why don't they?
And, why am I asking? Because the Wall Street Journal noted today that the Anti-Defamation League has announced a replacement for its longtime national director who is leaving after almost a half century working for the Jewish nonprofit. The New York-based organization on Thursday said Jonathan Greenblatt will take the helm when 74-year-old Abraham Foxman steps down in July 2015.
If I'm doing my math correctly, Abraham Foxman was hired as CEO when he was around 26 or 27. The world has certainly changed in the years Mr. Foxman has been at the helm. And maybe there are some nonprofits where keeping the same director for fifty years makes sense. But would you keep the same board? Or is there not a double standard? That is, regularly turning over a board matters more than regularly turning over the executive? Anyway, I'm thinking ten years would be a good number but maybe 15 would be ok. How many years does it take to leave an imprint, a legacy as you would while creating an institution that can also bend and flow into the future?
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