About

A CEO transition is one of the most defining moments in an organisation's life. When Darlington Building Society welcomed a new CEO after almost a decade of stable leadership, Chief People Officer Helen Easton found herself navigating a rare opportunity: shaping a relationship before day one.

In this discussion, Helen shares how she established trust with an incoming external CEO, created an honest flow of insight into the organisation, and built an early relationship that gave people considerations a meaningful voice in strategic decision-making.

Helen will be joined by Neil Hayward, Chair, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust, who has previously held Chief People Officer Roles at High-Speed Two and was Group People Director at Post Office Ltd.

Together, we'll explore what happens before the welcome announcement, how executive relationships are formed in the earliest days, and why the most valuable information often comes from beyond the boardroom. We'll also examine how leaders can stay connected to the reality of employee experience during periods of significant change.

For CEOs and CHROs alike, this is a candid look at the conversations, judgement calls and relationship-building that can influence the success of a leadership transition long before the new CEO takes their seat.