When a new CEO inherits the former's office, he has the chance to make the space his own. This is more than a matter of furniture, too, as it symbolizes the new leader's general approach to organization and self-management. On a more practical level, determining what an executive is planning to change in his office ahead of time helps a company plan for his arrival and allocate resources if needed.
There's an example of this in the news, courtesy of the recent CEO replacement at Microsoft. The Wall Street Journal reported that the current CEO of the company, Satya Nadella, is taking a different approach to his office than his predecessor, Steve Ballmer. According to the source, Ballmer was well known for not using a desk in his office, preferring a chair and couch.
Nadella, instead, is bringing a desk back into the executive office, and the change is a subtle but notable example of a difference in work styles. The Journal notes many prominent CEOs currently eschew the desk, preferring a more minimal approach to their personal workspace. Some companies have discarded traditional desks and workstations altogether for every employee.
On the other hand, having a desk isn't necessarily the sign of an old-fashioned CEO who can't change with the times. Business Insider recently reported on a legend from Google's beginnings, when co-founder Larry Page vigorously defended his messy desk and even got mad at then-CEO Eric Schmidt's attempts to clean things up.
Many executives have their own style of work that businesses should respect. By using an executive search firm, your company's board will have support to coordinate the transition when a suitable candidate is found.
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