Interim CEO vs Executive Chair
An interim CEO runs the company day-to-day for a defined period. An executive chair takes operational responsibility from the chair seat when the CEO is present but not yet capable, or absent while a search runs.
The core distinction
An interim CEO runs the company day-to-day for a defined period. An executive chair takes operational responsibility from the chair seat when the CEO is present but not yet capable, or absent while a search runs. The difference is not seniority. It is scope, authority, and time.
When to pick which
- Pick the first when the problem is clarity, ownership, and a written outcome
- Pick the second when the problem is execution inside an existing system
- Pick the third when the problem is time bounded and the board wants a defined end
How to decide inside the board
Write the problem down in one sentence, name who signs the decisions, and check whether the current leadership can carry the outcome. If not, pick the option that changes the signer, not the option that adds another advisor.
https://niklaslindahl.com/compare/interim-ceo-vs-executive-chair