At the World Economic Forum in Davos I sat down with Accenture’s former CEO and current Chairman, Bill Green. He’s been in his new role as sole Chairman of the US$21.6 billion global consulting company for six weeks now, and currently he’s going through what he affectionately refers to as “the withdrawal phase” from no longer working as CEO. Green joined the firm in 1977 and rose to partner in 1986. he served as CEO from September 2004 to December of last year and took the additional responsibility of Chairman in 2006. Pierre Nanterme assumed the role of CEO earlier this year.

“everyone can tell you that  you that they just turn it [being CEO] over and life is good. but, it’s like your baby. You know the person is going to take good care of it when it cries. but at 3 a.m. in the morning when it has something wrong with it, they are not going to know the subtleties. In a place that is very cultural and somewhat spiritual, it’s a big deal. I’m working my way through it.”

Video: Accenture’s New Mission

Most great companies think very strategically about executive succession planning, but recently with the news that Steve Jobs was taking his second medical leave of absence, the issue has been front and center for many companies.

“I encouraged our Board to go through the succession process. I told them I would remain as Chairman as long as it worked for them and for me. I get to do what I like to do best–serve our customers and energize and inspire our young.”

One thing Green isn’t going to miss–preparing for earnings. “There are some things I’ve just outgrown in terms of the minutia and the day-to-day…I have great confidence that the next generation is much better than my generation and they are going to take this company far.”