Jamie Dimon just offered a clear lesson in succession planning
Jamie Dimon just offered a clear lesson in succession planning.
Asked what he wants in JPMorgan’s next CEO, Dimon didn’t cite brilliance or technical mastery. He said he’s looking for “heart, soul, and the ability to coach.”
That’s the signal. The next leader of a 300,000-person firm won’t win by being the smartest individual in the room. They’ll win by being the one who gets the most out of everyone else.
Dimon himself proved it over two decades: steadying JPMorgan through the 2008 crisis, the pandemic, and multiple acquisitions. He knows the difference between raw IQ and leadership that inspires people to achieve what no spreadsheet could predict.
For investors, the takeaway is clear: succession risk isn’t about résumés. It’s about whether the next CEO can unite strategy with culture, execution, and trust at scale.
At Eagle Talon, that’s where we focus: whether boards are choosing leaders who can not only set direction, but also build systems — and teams — strong enough to deliver it.
🔗 Read the insights: Jamie Dimon Says His Successor at JPMorgan Doesn’t Need to Be the Smartest Person in the Room