EO leadership succession: what you need to know

How organised are you when it comes to succession planning?

If you’re a founder/owner who has chosen to transition your business to employee ownership – or an MD picking up the reins – the eoa’s ‘Road to Succession’ report on this topic is an essential read for you.

‘The Road to Succession: Exploring Leadership Succession in EO businesses’ was first published in late 2023 and spotlights what works – and what doesn’t.

It also reveals the common steps that lead businesses to a successful transition to employee ownership.

As you’d expect from such a robust piece of research, the long-term insights it contains are as relevant today as they were at its launch.

Understanding the EO succession journey

From left, our consultants Jeremy Gadd (previously JGA), Alex Bloom and Adam Campbell were all involved in 'The Road to Succession' report

Telos Partners was delighted to collaborate with JGA (with whom we have since merged) to support ‘The Road to Succession’ by carrying out the separate interviews with founders and successors on which the report is based.

In all, our team spoke confidentially and in depth with founders and leaders from 25 employee-owned businesses (all eoa members) on behalf of the eoa.

Our focus was clear: to discover the common themes that apply to a successful transition of leadership, when the ownership of the business is in transition too.

How is this different in an employee-owned business? What does it look/feel like through the founder’s and successor’s eyes?

All vitally important to understand when so much is at stake for all involved – from the founder/owner and leaders to the wider business, customers and employees.

Learning from experienced hands

'The journey of leadership succession in an EO business is filled with unique advantages, opportunities and challenges'

So what’s in the ‘Road to Succession’ report?

In short, practical insight and guidance for those planning, or undergoing, leadership succession in their own employee-owned business.

This includes top tips from founders and MDs with lived experience of the succession journey, ranging from getting started early and setting a realistic timeline to not being ‘afraid’ to ask for support.

‘The journey of leadership succession in an employee-owned business is filled with unique advantages, opportunities and challenges,’ says the eoa’s James de le Vigne.

‘Whether you are a founder, successor, employee owner, customer or supplier to an employee-owned business, this report will help you address the questions and uncertainties that [can] arise.’

Equipping your successors to succeed

Telos Partners’ consultant Jeremy Gadd agrees.

‘The Road to Succession report was an interesting project for both the Telos Partners team and JGA [the business Jeremy founded and led for 11 years] to be involved in,’ he recalls.  

‘Having supported many businesses to navigate the challenges of employee ownership, it was a privilege to take time out, sit down and listen to their stories of success and shortfall. We were grateful to all the founders and successors who took part for the honesty they brought to each of the conversations we had.’

And what about the result of all those conversations?

Jeremy was impressed, describing the output of the ‘Road to Succession’ project as ‘invaluable’.

‘The report highlights routes to success, mapping out potential sources of support to help others achieve positive outcomes,’ he explains. ‘I’d recommend this report to any founder or MD who’s leading an employee-owned business today.’

And effective EO leadership succession remains a hot topic, with our consultant Alex Bloom leading two packed sessions on it at the eoa conference 2025.

Want to know more?

One of the themes to emerge from ‘The Road to Succession’ is that a successful succession comes at the end of a long road.

However, learning from those who have done it is one way to give your leadership successors the best possible start – and equip them to navigate the challenges that will arise.

Here’s what you should do next:

1. Download a pdf of 'The Road to Succession' report here.

2. Find out more about how our experienced EO team can support you as a founder/owner, leader or board of an employee-owned business to explore and navigate the challenges of leadership succession here.

3. Get in touch with one of our knowledgeable EO team to arrange a free no obligation meeting here.