Is there life after leadership?

BRUSSELS — Rich Stearns, the outgoing president of World Vision United States, has seen many boards talking about their leader, asking each other “When is the old boy going to retire?”

“I don’t want people whispering about me in the hallways,” he told Devex recently after announcing plans to step down after 20 years in the job. “I feel good about what I’m doing right now but I do think it’s time for a new leader, and I want to give the organization the best possible chance to have a smooth transition.”