58 | theceomagazine.com
T
aryn Williams had spent eight years living and
breathing her company when she decided it was
time to hand over the reins to someone else.
Williams had launched a start-up called
theright.fit and knew it was essential to relinquish the
day-to-day management of WINK Models, which she’d
founded in 2007 and run as its CEO. By the time the
succession took place in 2015, WINK had more than
650 models on its books and a turnover in the millions.
Her successor was her second-in-command, Sage
Greenwood, who had joined the company in a junior
capacity and worked her way up through the ranks.
Williams, who remains the company owner, spent
several months transitioning Greenwood into the role of
managing director and shares with The CEO Magazine
a number of insights she learned from the process.CONSIDER CORE VALUES
Williams explains that Greenwood was the obvious candidate
for the role because she shared the same value set.
“I was really lucky that Sage had been with the company
for three years and she’d modelled with me for four yearsWHO IS YOUR
HEIR APPARENT?
THESE SUCCESSION TIPS FROM EXPERTS AND A CEO WHO HAS LIVED
THROUGH IT WILL HELP MINIMISE DISRUPTION DURING A TIME
THAT IS FRAUGHT WITH SENSITIVITIES.WORDS • JESSICA MUDDITT