BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  The Workplace  >  Why CEO Succession is the Board's Most Important Job

Why CEO Succession is the Board's Most Important Job

Michele Kythe Lim, President & CEO, of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) | Tunku Alizakri, Multi-Company Independent Director

16-Jul-25 11:00

Why CEO Succession is the Board's Most Important Job

Leadership transitions are one of the most critical moments for any organization. Get succession planning right, and you ensure stability, credibility, and confidence; get it wrong, and you risk chaos and value destruction. But who is truly responsible for this vital process?

Michele Kythe Lim, President & CEO of ICDM, and Tunku Alizakri Alias, a multi-company independent director, argue that succession planning is a strategic board imperative, not just an HR function, and requires a transparent, formalised process to succeed.

We discuss:

  • Why succession planning and picking CEOs is the board's most important strategic job.

  • The key indicators of a successful leadership transition.

  • Lessons from global succession stories like Apple and Disney.

  • The crucial role of independent directors in ensuring objectivity.

  • The different challenges in PLCs, GLCs, and family-owned businesses.

    For board members, CEOs, and HR leaders tasked with building resilient organisations, this is key insight into future-proofing leadership and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  the workplaceCorporates

Tags:  ceo successionsuccession planningcorporate governanceboard of directorsleadership development





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) In a global debt market of over $100 trillion, the Shariah-compliant Sukuk market has just crossed its own major milestone: $1 trillion. But what exactly are these Islamic financial instruments, how do they differ from conventional debt, and what's driving their rapid growth? Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings, joins us to get into all this and more.

12:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

(REPEAT) In the spirit of Merdeka and Malaysia Day, we review three local short films and then on Take 2 go through your favourite Malaysian movies.

1:00 PM

Cruise Control

(REPEAT) It's a review of the new, competitively-priced BYD Atto 2 in this week's episode. Tune in to hear Daniel's thoughts on this car.

2:00 PM

Matt-Splained

(REPEAT) Today, Rich Bradbury and Matt Armitage pose the most explosive question of all and ask: AI, ya basic?

3:00 PM

Earth Matters

(REPEAT) We speak to Dr. Non Arkaraprasertkul, Senior Expert at Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency, about his work on smart city projects across ASEAN and how technology, policy, and people’s needs can create greener, more livable cities.

4:00 PM

Bar None

(REPEAT) A local football agent joins us in this episode to talk about his world and what goes around in it. Is it as glamorous as it seems?

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

This episode of The Conversation features two women who are managing orchestras in Hungary and the UK.