“There are, unfortunately, many examples of the disruption caused by the illness or death of mission critical leaders. In 1997, Coca-Cola Co.'s Chairman and CEO, Roberto C. Goizueta, died of lung cancer just two months after being diagnosed. Though M. Douglas Ivester was named to step into the leadership position, his tenure was short and unsuccessful compared with Goizueta's legendary turnaround of the company. Ivester was asked to step down after just three years due to his poor handling of a number of crises.”

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