
When It’s Time for Founders to Step Down as CEO
Startup Success · 2026-05-05 · 24 min
Episode notes
In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate sits down with Tony Jamous, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Oyster, and Hadi Moussa, the company’s newly appointed CEO, for a refreshingly honest conversation on scaling a global company - and knowing when it’s time to bring in new leadership. Tony shares the personal journey behind one of the hardest decisions any founder can make: stepping aside as CEO, and why putting the mission ahead of ego sets great founders apart. And Hadi explains how he’s approached the transition to ensure a successful handoff. We discuss: The moment Tony knew it was time to hand over the CEO role How to manage leadership transitions with intention and transparency Communicating the change in a way that builds trust and signals strength Why global hiring is a competitive advantage in the age of AI Whether you're navigating growth, thinking about leadership evolution, or rethinking how to build a distributed team, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it really takes to scale - with the right people, in the right roles, at the right time. - Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn ! Learn more about Oyster at This episode is
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