Robert J Stark

Robert J. Stark is a senior partner at Spencer Stuart, one of the world’s premier executive search and leadership consulting firms. He is the co-author of the landmark book The Life Cycle of a CEO (written with Claudius A. Hildebrand), which provides a data-driven analysis of the stages of a chief executive’s tenure. Stark leads the firm’s CEO succession practice for the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. His work offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the boardroom dynamics that determine the fate of global companies.\n\nStark’s expertise lies in predicting leadership success. He argues that the skills required to become a CEO are often different from the skills needed to thrive in the role over time. Through his research, he identified the "slumps" and "recoveries" that characterize a long CEO career. Stark advises boards on how to select leaders who are not just charismatic, but adaptable. He emphasizes the importance of "legacy" and planning for the end of a tenure from the very beginning. Stark’s insights are essential for any executive looking to understand the arc of their career and for any board member tasked with the critical duty of succession planning.