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How much does it cost to fire a CEO? #shorts
Bloomberg Televisionยท2025-08-23 14:45

CEO Transition Costs - Unplanned CEO departures at Russell 3000 companies reached a recent high in 2024, totaling 134 [1] - The median payment to forced-out CEOs in 2024 was $67 million, including unvested stock awards and other equity-based compensation [1] - The median sign-on payment for new CEOs last year was $9 million, with some reaching significantly higher amounts, such as Brian Nickel's $90 million [2] - Forced turnovers at the world's largest public companies cost each firm 18% or $8 billion in foregone shareholder value [4] - News of a CEO shakeup can make investors more than twice as likely to sell shares as they would be to buy them [4] Impact on Organization - CEO transitions can impact other leaders across the organization, necessitating retention awards to encourage them to stay or step up as interim CEOs [2][3] - Payments to advisors like recruitment firms, lawyers, and PR consultants can quickly reach seven figures during a CEO search [3] Overall Assessment - The ripple effects of a CEO transition are undeniable, and its mounting costs can be immense, potentially making or breaking a company [4]