The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs
A Podcast About Leadership · 2026-01-09 · 1h 23m
Episode notes
What does CEO succession look like when it’s planned, values-led, and built for continuity and change at the same time? In this episode of A Podcast About Leadership , host Jonathan Kirschner, founder and CEO of AIIR Consulting, sits down with three leaders who’ve lived the succession story from every angle: Reade Fahs , who led National Vision for more than two decades, guiding the company from a modest optical chain into one of the largest vision care retailers in America — and who recently transitioned out of the role of CEO . Alex Wilkes , National Vision’s new CEO, who joined as president and stepped into the top role with a modernization agenda rooted in customer reality and operational urgency. Jamie Ramsden , senior executive coach, author of Let’s Go , and a former CEO himself, who has coached both leaders and offers a behind-the-scenes view into what makes a succession succeed or fail. Together, they explore the art and science of handing over the baton — including the internal work required of the outgoing CEO, the strategic choices required of the incoming CEO, and the practical routines that protect trust during a high-stakes transition.