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How Long Is Too Long

Today GE announced that CEO Jeff Immelt is stepping down sooner than his expected departure in December, likely due to investor pressure, even with…

Anthony LoPinto

Today GE announced that CEO Jeff Immelt is stepping down sooner than his expected departure in December, likely due to investor pressure, even with only three months to go. Jeff has been at the helm for 16 years versus the median for US CEOs who typically turn in their keys in about five years. Obviously there are those who hang on forever, but they are increasingly a minority as shareholders expect tenures to be managed and avoid evergreen administrations.

Immelt is a good example of a CEO who has officiated over a company that has struggled for years, and finally succumbed to pressure from activist Trian Fund Management. Once again, another example of a board that does not manage succession when a company clearly needs fresh leadership and determines how long is too long.

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Anthony J. LoPinto

Anthony J. LoPinto

Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn Ferry’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. For the past 18 years LoPinto has been serving his clients with deep knowledge and perspective on talent needs and organizational challenges to public and private companies – knowledge gained from a 25-year career in real estate. Prior to his current position, he founded and served as chief executive officer of a boutique real estate executive search firm, where he oversaw offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has successfully led several high profile search engagements for chief executive officers, directors and a wide-range of executive level positions across all industries and sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history from Loyola University in Chicago.

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