The Next CEO

You are the founder and CMD of a medium level enterprise. The company started from
your garage 30 years ago and has now achieved a turnover of Rs. 1500 Cr., with a team
size of 5000 employees. You have successfully built a professional culture in the
organization where everyone is free to speak their heart out and as a result have built
an environment of trust and great teamwork.

Now is the time you decide to choose your successor. There are 16 top leaders and, on
your suggestion, they nominate two names amongst themselves, who on the basis of
votes by these 16 will be elected as new CEO. The majority that is 12 out of 16 votes for
leader A and he is deemed to be the next CEO.

Leader B is dissatisfied with the decision and comes to you for a one on one discussion.
Post the meeting and evaluating all the facts and in best interest of the company you
call Leader A and do a close door discussion with him and request him to step down
voluntarily. Leader A always treats you as his mentor and guru so, on a single request
and without asking any question voluntarily steps down. The new board will have
Leader B as CEO and Leader A as deputy CEO.

Looking at the entire biasness Leader C pops out and says this is unfair, if you decide to
go ahead with this decision he will resign with his full team and launch a competitor
company.

So now there are three subgroups within the team:

A: They are your loyalists and believe that there must be some very solid reason for your
intervention and are in consensus for leader B becoming the CEO

B: They are extremely happy as their voted leader will now be the CEO
C: They are an offspring of Leader A voters and are giving a logic that why did the CMD
use his/her nomination power today post voting and result declaration. This as per them
is breach of trust and values. This will encourage the leaders and team to take more
shortcuts in the future.

Question: You are the CMD of the company and now have a big challenge of keeping
everybody together. Please suggest atleast three solutions with reasoning. Also mark
your most recommended solution.