Author of The Life Cycle of a CEO.
Best Article – Academy of Management, for his work on mindsets and social networks.
Fluent in German, English, and Mandarin.
From an in-depth research project into CEO performance – which included studying every S&P 500 CEO of the 21st century and conducting 100+ interviews with chief executives and board directors – Claudius developed the CEO Life Cycle, a five-stage pattern that shapes executive success or failure. In his book The Life Cycle of a CEO (with Robert J. Stark), he challenges traditional assumptions in board governance by showing how leaders can adapt their approach as they progress through the stages of the cycle. By combining academic rigour with practical relevance, his dataset shifts CEO succession planning from intuition to evidence-driven strategy.
CEO Advisor at Spencer Stuart, where he leads the firm’s CEO Performance Analytics program, Claudius received his master’s and PhD in management from Columbia Business School. Prior to joining Spencer Stuart he was a member of Boston Consulting Group’s CEO Advisory. Earlier in his career, he served as founder and strategic adviser to several early-stage businesses in Germany, China, and the UK. He holds a coaching certificate from the Neuroleadership Institute and integrates cutting-edge neuroscience into his approach. Claudius’ work is frequently cited in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes and the Financial Times.
The Life Cycle of a CEO: The Myths and Truths of How Leaders Succeed (with Robert J. Stark, Hachette, 2024). ‘Choose the Right CEO for Volatile Times’ (co-author, Harvard Business Review, 2025); ‘How CEOs Build Confidence in Their Leadership’ (co-author, Harvard Business Review, 2024); ‘The Leadership Odyssey’ (co-author, Harvard Business Review, 2023); ‘The CEO Life Cycle’ (co-author, Harvard Business Review, 2019). Giving up Control To Be in Control (Inspire Greatness Podcast with Matt Tenney, 2024); Planting Flags and Building Roads (Inspire Greatness Podcast with Matt Tenney, 2024).
“We talk about the first hundred days, but what happens next? In their essential book, Hildebrand and Stark masterfully combine the art of storytelling and science of data to illuminate the challenges and triumphs of a CEO’s journey from novice to elder. A must-read for current and aspiring leaders alike.”
– Herminia Ibarra, Thinkers50 Leadership Award, 2013; author of Working Identity
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Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
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