When executives admit on any level that alcoholism (or addiction) may be adversely impacting their careers and lives, they are faced with a real dilemma: who can they talk with about this issue without jeopardizing their position, their reputation or the overall success of their corporation? Within a business entity, top executives (and this includes business owners) can’t talk with their peers because they don’t have any! They cannot talk with their board of directors, because their leadership capability will be questioned. They don’t feel comfortable talking with their HR manager about something so intimate, because there is no guarantee of privacy. And they certainly won’t be inclined to pick up the phone to dial the 800 number of their EAP representative, because these people don’t understand the nuances of being a CEO.
Executives need to talk with someone outside the organization. They need to confide in someone who they know has no ties to their corporation. They need someone who they believe will not reveal to anyone what’s going on in their lives relative to substance use. But who can they call? Who will be sensitive to the issues facing top-level executives? Who understands what addiction looks like among high-functioning professionals? Who can offer hope that recovery is possible no matter what title you hold? Who is tapped into resources designed specifically for executives seeking recovery from alcohol or other addictions?
An executive recovery coach. 
These very specialized coaches work exclusively with executives, helping clients assimilate healthy recovery practices into successful business leadership. Because of their broad sphere of influence within the treatment and recovery arena, executive recovery coaches are aware of resources designed specifically for high-accountability, high-net worth individuals. They can link an executive with resources to begin the recovery process; a treatment facility, a therapist or other mental health provider, etc. But the real value of an executive recovery coach lies in the ongoing support they provide to their clients transitioning effectively back into their “old” leadership roles building “new” successes within the context of sobriety.