Succession Planning

Sustainable growth depends on having the right leaders in place, not just today, but for the future. Our succession planning services help you identify, assess, and prepare future leaders by evaluating both internal and external talent pipelines.

Why succession planning matters

Leadership gaps can disrupt momentum, stall growth, and create risks for business continuity. Proactive succession planning ensures you have a clear view of who is ready to step into critical roles and where development is needed to strengthen the pipeline.

Through a data-led review, we help you:

identify critical roles

Uncover what motivates employees in your sector

identify industry challenges

Utilise feedback to identify industry challenges and potential solutions

Inform your people strategy

Tailor your offering to attract and retain top talent

Succession planning case study

Industry

Fintech

Business Size

200+ Staff

Target Country

United Kingdom

A fast-growing fintech company needed to develop a succession plan for its Money Laundering Reporting Officer in order to remain compliant with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Under FCA rules, this senior management function must always be occupied by a suitably qualified and approved individual, meaning that even a short vacancy could leave the company exposed to significant regulatory and operational risk.

The client wanted to ensure it had a clear and credible plan in place should its current MLRO leave unexpectedly.

The exercise gave the client peace of mind, ensuring they were prepared for any unplanned departures and able to maintain regulatory compliance without disruption, while also building a longer-term succession strategy.

Our Approach

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Market Mapping

We identified and mapped senior compliance professionals across the fintech sector and wider financial services industry, focusing on individuals with the relevant experience and FCA approval to step into the role.

Competitor Insights

We examined how competitors structured their compliance leadership and identified potential talent pools that were both immediately available and strategically aligned.

9

Succession Readiness

We provided the client with a shortlist of potential candidates, as well as intelligence on compensation levels, reporting structures and career trajectories. This enabled them to understand the market and plan effectively for continuity.

Why choose Henley?

Our succession planning process combines data, market insights, and leadership expertise to give you a clear picture of your talent pipeline. You’ll benefit from:

  • Comprehensive talent assessment: Reviewing internal candidates against role requirements.

  • External talent scanning: Identifying where outside hires may strengthen capability.

  • Readiness evaluation: Measuring how close candidates are to stepping into key roles.

  • Development roadmaps: Providing tailored strategies to accelerate readiness.

  • Pipeline reporting: Giving leadership visibility into succession strength and risks.

This ensures that succession isn’t left to chance but is managed as a strategic advantage.

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