For Steve, this was not just a decision but a journey he prepared for while being CEO.ĬEOs who think about making the transition to Chair should be honest with themselves and think about what gives them satisfaction. Therefore, he started thinking about his skills, passions, and how he could best use these in a different context. He thought he could not enter into another CEO role that would be as fulfilling as his time with National Grid was. “The question really comes down to what is it that you really want?” Steve describes how privileged he felt working with a fabulous team and National Grid. Steve provides insights into his thoughts and journey when he was CEO and decided to embark on a different career. Some of the key takeaways of the conversation include: Further to these roles, Steve volunteers his time as Vice Chair of the Careers and Enterprise Company, Vice Chair of Business in the Community and previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Crisis, the homeless charity Steve is chairing the board of Cityfibre and Zenobe as well as the President of the Energy Institute. Others fail and fuel preconceptions that make it that put up barriers for those that wish to make the transition.Īfter serving as Chief Executive of National Grid for almost ten years, Steve has successfully transitioned to prominent Chair and Non-Executive Director roles. Some CEOs make a move to Chair without missing a beat, understanding how to leverage their experience without falling back into old habits.

The desired hands-on qualities that help an Executive thrive may be seen as interference if applied on a board. The role of an Executive differs significantly from that of a Non-Executive on a board. Steve Holliday, the Former CEO of National Gird, spoke with Dr Sabine Dembkowski. The subject of this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series is “Transitioning from CEO to Chair”. Insights, Podcast Transitioning from CEO to Chair admin on October 7, 2021

Welcome the Wicked by Don Holliday