CEO Search Committee Rules

[Ajeanette]

The Chair of our Board (non-profit) currently chairing the Search Committee for a new President and CEO. The Chair is planning to resign from the Search committee and pursue the position of President and CEO themself. what is the protocol (bylaws are silent) for Chair resigning from search committee and a new member of search committee being named as well as a new chair of the search committee? Does this need to go to the full board of can the search committee appoint a new chairman and continue? Also, does chair need to step down from chair, board or can he simply recuse himself from matters related to the search / selection?

[JohnR]

The committee chair should submit his resignation in writing to the body or officer which appointed him. Then it will be up to that authority to appoint or elect a new committee chairman and a replacement member. The committee cannot appoint its own chair unless your rules give it that power.

Nothing in RONR requires the board chairman to resign in these circumstances, but he should temporarily relinquish the chair when the board considers any motion pertaining to his candidacy.

[Ajeanette]

Thank you John R! this is as anticipated; however I wanted to check.

[Ajeanette]

The committee chair should submit his resignation in writing to the body or officer which appointed him. Then it will be up to that authority to appoint or elect a new committee chairman and a replacement member. The committee cannot appoint its own chair unless your rules give it that power.

Nothing in RONR requires the board chairman to resign in these circumstances, but he should temporarily relinquish the chair when the board considers any motion pertaining to his candidacy.

John R / Others, can you provide a RONR citation for this? There has been a request from a board member.