The most dangerous moment in succession is not the announcement of the new CEO. It is the forty eight hours that follow. While the board celebrates the winner, the runner up is quietly calculating their exit. In this episode, Ash Wendt exposes the Runner Up Trap, a succession blind spot that destroys more value than most failed CEO hires. You will hear why high performing COOs, Presidents, and Division Heads leave immediately after being passed over, how boards unintentionally accelerate that exit, and the four moves that determine whether the leadership system holds or fractures after the announcement.