When the CIO position comes up vacant, where will the college or university find the replacement? Too often there is not a ready successor in place. The academic IT profession has done a terrible job of preparing for succession; too little effort has gone into the development and preparation of future CIOs. Sometimes a good prospect to step up to the top position will have to endure being passed over and look for that role elsewhere. In that case, at least the net outcome for the profession is good. And the double turnover at the original institution might have benefits of its own, namely a thorough change of leadership.