Efficiently Managing Leadership Transitions in Associations

EVENT REPORT

This whitepaper draws on the ESAE roundtable “Efficiently Managing Leadership Transitions”, organised by ESAE in collaboration with Kadrant and Mavence EU, on October 8 2025.

The panel was moderated by Giulia Mauri, founder and partner at Kadrant and it included the following speakers: Ulrich Adam, Director General of Orgalim, James Watson, Director General of Eurometaux, and Anna Koj, Managing Director of Mavence EU.

The roundtable was very well attended and participants included Association leaders, CEOs, and

specialised advisors who all shared their real-life experiences of navigating leadership change. This

document aims to capture those insights and offer simple, people-centred takeaways for Associations and their leaders

What follows is not mere theory, but shared experience: practical dos and don’ts, lessons learned, and real life examples showing how preparation, openness, and dialogue can transform transitions into opportunities, and highlight the growing need for further professionalisation in Association management.

Across Brussels and the rest of Europe, it was generally felt that leadership cycles are getting shorter. Change is no longer the exception, but a part of the organisational rhythm and life of any Association. Preparing for it should be part of any Association’s good governance.

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