Constructing a CEO Profile: Guidance for Ontario Hospital Boards in the CEO Succession Process

A CEO profile is a composite picture of a future leader developed by a board. The profile supports an active or anticipated CEO search.

A CEO profile includes the attributes, skills and experiences required to lead an organization into the future. When well-crafted, carefully considered and robustly debated, it is an invaluable tool that ensures board objectivity and contributes to achieve board consensus in the CEO search outcome for the organization.

In response to an increase in CEO leadership transitions in Ontario hospitals in recent years, Proximity developed a foundational yet flexible and adaptable CEO profile framework to support boards in the CEO succession process. The five-step framework provides guidance to boards as they consider the CEO leadership requirements for the future of their hospital and its unique context. At the core of the framework are twelve leadership attributes thematically grouped.