If the FD is really good, he will be headhunted – leaving a vacancy
If the FD is really bad, he will be fired – leaving a vacancy
If the company prospers the FD may well land the top job – leaving a vacancy
If the MD dies or retires only the FD has sufficient familiarity with all aspects of the business to take over – leaving a vacancy
If the company is doing badly, the FD will know first and will leave before anybody else finds out – leaving a vacancy
(According to Peter Vaines and Roger Nuttall in their book “The Bottom Line“)
