May 27, 2025
Still Waiting: Signify’s CEO Decision Expected Any Day
Company expected to choose permanent successor before the end of May
A month has passed since Signify appointed CFO Željko Kosanović as interim CEO, following the formal departure of longtime chief Eric Rondolat. At the time, the company’s Supervisory Board said it expected to conclude the CEO search by the end of May. That moment is nearly here — if not already here — and the industry is watching closely.
What we do know: the need for new leadership didn’t arise suddenly. Rondolat’s four-year contract, renewed in May 2024, included a six-month notice clause. Since his departure was publicly announced in January 2025, it’s reasonable to infer that the decision was made internally around October of last year. That gave Signify ample time to conduct its review of both internal and external candidates.
The appointment of an interim CEO in April raised some eyebrows — not because of who was chosen, but because it suggested that the permanent successor might not yet be available. That could point to an external hire still under contract elsewhere. If the board had opted for an internal candidate, it’s likely that the transition could have been completed without an interim step.
There’s also a chance that an agreement with an external candidate was reached, only to fall apart in late stages. Such a scenario could explain the extended timeline and continued uncertainty.
As for Kosanović, his dual role as CFO and interim CEO keeps the company steady, at least publicly. But his compensation package, disclosed in April, aligns more closely with that of a top finance executive than a permanent chief executive. If he’s ultimately chosen to stay in the CEO seat, it’s possible that his terms could be revisited.
For now, all signs suggest that a final decision is near. With only a few days left in the month, Signify is expected to announce its next CEO any day now.
