During the summer of 2025, I was sitting with my wife watching television when a commercial cut through the noise with a simple, jarring message: the average life expectancy is 78, retirement age is 67—we spend 50 years working to enjoy just 11.
My wife looked over at me and said, “They’re talking to you.”
She was right. That moment stuck.
In September 2025, I informed the IHMM Board that I would retire at the conclusion of my contract in July 2027. You’ll soon see a formal announcement of the opportunity ahead as they begin the search for the next leader.
I didn’t arrive here with great fanfare, and will leave the same. That’s never been the point. When I came here in 2018, I told those with whom I worked that I was a temp, someone had done the job before I did, and someone would do it after I left. In my profession, success isn’t measured in noise—it’s measured in impact. If you can leave an organization stronger, more relevant, and better positioned than when you found it, then you’ve done your job. IHMM is in a far stronger position today than it was in September of 2018 when I came.
I believe we’ve done that together. Soon, it will be someone else’s chance. I am considering running for President in 2028, but then I’m not yet old enough.
And with that—onward to the next chapter.
You are right Eugene! We don’t realize the truth until is to late.
This is powerful and honest in a way we don’t see often.
What stands out is the clarity of purpose: not measuring success by visibility, but by impact. That’s rare leadership. Too many chase recognition; far fewer focus on leaving something meaningfully better than they found it.
The line about “50 years working to enjoy just 11” hits hard. It’s a reminder that time is the one resource we can’t audit, optimize, or recover and yet it’s the one we most casually spend.
Also, the humility in acknowledging that we’re all temporary stewards of our roles—that someone came before, and someone will come after—is something more leaders should internalize. It changes how you build, how you lead, and how you leave.
Wishing you a meaningful next chapter. If this one is any indication, it won’t be quiet, it’ll be impactful.