Fortune just sounded the alarm: in the first half of 2025, a full 33% of new CEOs were interim appointments.
Let that sink in.
A third of new CEO roles are occupied by people who aren’t expected to stay. Boards are embracing flexibility, cycling in operators for specific moments or mandates.
The CEO seat is starting to look more like a revolving door than a destination.
If the CEO role is becoming a gig, what does that mean for CEOs?
One implication is that your personal brand is more important than ever.
When the Chair Spins Faster, You Need to Stand Out
In a world where tenures are short and expectations are high, people need to know what you stand for.
That’s where LinkedIn comes in.
It’s the most powerful platform for:
- Building visibility while you’re in the CEO role
- Showcasing your leadership style and strategic thinking
- Creating continuity between roles
This matters to everyone watching you and your company: customers, partners, investors, boards, recruiters, employees, the media.
What to Do Right Now
- Claim your voice. Too many CEOs default to corporate comms for everything external. But in this environment, people want to hear from you. Share in your own voice. A single authentic post is more powerful than a polished press release.
- Build a content cadence. You don’t need to post every week. But you do need a rhythm. Start with 1-2 posts per month. Don’t just repost your company’s posts – put your interpretation on what’s happening. These posts build a record of your thinking over time and position you as someone worth following.
- Own your transitions. You know what to do when you start a new role. But make sure you manage leaving a role as effectively. Use the transition to reflect publicly on lessons learned, goals for the future, or what’s next in your field. This is your chance to frame your story.
- Engage strategically. Leadership isn’t just broadcasting, it’s interaction. Comment on content from people in your space. Acknowledge big moves from peers and competitors. Respond to thoughtful comments. When people see you showing up beyond your own posts, they start to understand how you lead.
- Be findable, memorable, and referable. Make sure your LinkedIn profile actually reflects your leadership style. Update your headline to say something more than just your title. Write a summary that shares your mission and the kind of impact you’re focused on.
The CEO Role Might Be Temporary. Your Impact Doesn’t Have to Be.
Whether you’re in the seat for 18 months or decades, your leadership should echo beyond your title.
Help boost your impact by investing effort in your brand now. Because in the CEO gig economy, the one thing you take with you is your reputation.
What will people remember about you?