CEO succession

Every investor should be asking their portfolio companies what succession plans they have to replace their CEOs in the event of a tragedy like that which befell Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton last week. Because unfortunately, many companies don't have any plan at all.

The number of Fortune 1,000 board members who have been tapped to lead the companies whose boards they served on has more than tripled in the past 12 months. The reason is poor succession planning, and the results may be problematic both for those businesses and the corporate world at large.

It might be a scandal. Or an illness. Or the CEO could simply quit. Regardless of the cause, major companies can't afford to wait until a sudden crisis dictates the search for a new CEO. Korn/Ferry's Ana Dutra explains.

Although HP's competitors have been quiet so far, the Mark Hurd fiasco has to smell like blood in the water around Silicon Valley. Where exactly might HP be most vulnerable? And where might it still hold an edge? Here's a business-by-business rundown.

IBM has realigned its executive suites and expanded the roles of four of its top managers, according to an internal memo sent to employees Monday -- a move that potentially paves the way for one of them to become the successor to CEO Sam Palmisano.