The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs

2026-01-09 · 83 min · 10 entities

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Asserted relationships

→ appeared on A Podcast About Leadership podcast

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The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs
→ works at AIIR Consulting company

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CEO of AIIR Consulting
→ discusses Business company

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Feed category: Business
→ discusses Management website

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Feed category: Management
→ hosted by AIIR Consulting company

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Feed author/publisher: AIIR Consulting

Entities found in this episode

companys 5

mentioned AIIR Consulting company

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Feed author/publisher: AIIR Consulting
mentioned Business company

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Business
works at AIIR Consulting company

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evidence rules-v5
CEO of AIIR Consulting
discusses Business company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Business
hosted by AIIR Consulting company

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evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: AIIR Consulting

websites 2

mentioned Management website

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Feed category: Management
discusses Management website

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Management

persons 1

mentioned National Vision CEO Al person

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The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs

podcasts 1

appeared on A Podcast About Leadership podcast

0.68

evidence rules-v5
The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs

concepts 1

mentioned CEO concept

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CEO

Episode description as stored

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.