Crisis in Week One: What Every New CEO Needs to Do
Oct 28, 2025
- by Jane Halford and ChatGPT
Stepping into the CEO role is always a high-stakes moment. But imagine this: you’ve barely settled into your new office when a crisis hits. The media is calling, employees are anxious, customers are frustrated, and the board is watching closely. Suddenly, your carefully planned first 90 days are replaced by headlines you didn’t write.
Recent events like cyber security attacks, tragedies, and scandals show just how quickly a crisis can escalate and dominate public conversation. For a new CEO, this isn’t just a communications challenge it’s a leadership test that will define how others see you for months and years to come.
What’s the best course of action when you’re just days or weeks into the job and a media storm breaks?
- Stabilize and Listen First
Before making public statements, you need clarity. Sit down with your leadership team, crisis managers, and board chair. Ask direct questions:
What do we know? What don’t we know? What’s being done right now?
Your credibility depends on accuracy first then focused speed. As a new CEO, resist the pressure to publicly react. First, ensure you understand the facts and risks and keep the board chair informed alog the way.
- Acknowledge Stakeholders Early
Even if details are still emerging, silence can be damaging. Communicate as early and as clearly as possible with employees and key partners. Let them know you are engaged, listening, and committed to action. A short, steadying message builds trust, such as:
“I recognize the seriousness of the situation and I want you to know it has my full attention. Our team is working around the clock to resolve it, and I will continue to keep you updated.”
But, remember that anything you say can be leaked. Balance candor with prudent reputation management.
As we pointed out in Don’t Lose Our New Leaders, new CEOs are particularly vulnerable to feeling isolated.
By acknowledging others early, you reinforce support systems and show you won’t try to weather the storm alone.
- Be Visible and Accountable
Once you have reliable information and media training, step into the public role. Your presence matters. Whether in a press conference, an internal town hall, or a video message, people need to see you leading. That said, if you have no media experience, strategically determine if an alternative spokesperson is better for public communication and focus your messaging internally.
The key is accountability. Don’t blame others, don’t minimize the crisis, and don’t disappear.
A CEO who owns the moment builds long-term credibility—even when the situation is messy.
- Balance Crisis Response with Long-Term Vision
Crises can consume an organization’s energy. As CEO, you must ensure today’s emergency response doesn’t derail tomorrow’s priorities.
Work with your board and leadership team to protect space for ongoing strategy and operations, even while managing the headlines.
This balance—resolving the crisis while keeping the organization moving forward—is the essence of leadership transition under pressure.
- Debrief and Learn Quickly
When the immediate crisis stabilizes, initiate a debrief. What went well? Where were the gaps? How can governance, communication, and operational systems improve for the future? It's all about emerging stronger and applying the lessons learned before they are forgotten.
A new CEO who leads this learning process demonstrates resilience and sets the tone for a culture of accountability.
The first weeks of a CEO’s tenure can define their legacy. A crisis, while daunting, is also a chance to show steady leadership, earn trust, and set a standard for the future. Handle it with transparency, humility, and courage—and you’ll not only weather the storm, you’ll emerge as the leader your organization truly needs.
Download our free CEO Transition Resource Kit tailored for boards, senior leaders, and CEOs.
Have questions about leadership transition, governance, or family business? Try our free AI tool: Ask Jane
Further Reading
The new CEO’s guide to crisis management, IMD Business
When CEOs Face the Storm: 12 Lessons in Crisis Leadership, PreparedEx
CEO Succession Planning: Leading Through Crisis, Heidrick & Struggles
Why Leaders Should Be Thinking About the Next Crisis, TIME