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Global CEO Turnover Index

We share the latest CEO turnover data across listed companies globally. Each quarter, you’ll find the proportion of CEO departures and appointments globally, as well as trends on CEO appointments by gender, tenure, and whether CEOs are internal or external hires.
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Global CEO turnover - Russell Reynolds Associate

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Incoming
Outgoing
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Incoming CEOs
Incoming CEOs: Gender
Incoming CEOs: Appointment
Incoming CEOs: First Timers

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Global (All Companies)   S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   DAX 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   NSE Nifty 50   S&P/TSX Composite   STI   SMI  
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Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
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Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
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Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
Download data
Incoming CEOs
Incoming CEOs: Gender
Incoming CEOs: Appointment
Incoming CEOs: First Timers

Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare  Industrial  Technology 
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Global (All Companies) Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Global (All Companies) Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Global (All Companies) Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Index view
Industry view
Outgoing CEOs
Outgoing CEOs: Gender
Outgoing CEOs: Appointment
Outgoing CEOs: First Timers
Outgoing CEOs: Tenure

Select Index

Global (All Companies)  S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   DAX 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   NSE Nifty 50   S&P/TSX Composite   STI   SMI  
Download data
Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
Download data
Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
Download data
Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 DAX 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 NSE Nifty 50 S&P/TSX Composite STI SMI
Download data

Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   DAX 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   NSE Nifty 50   S&P/TSX Composite   STI   SMI  
Download data
Outgoing CEOs
Outgoing CEOs: Gender
Outgoing CEOs: Appointment
Outgoing CEOs: First Timers
Outgoing CEOs: Tenure

Select Industry

Global   Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare  Industrial  Technology 
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Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Global (All Companies) Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare  Industrial  Technology 
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Explore our Annual Reports

 

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The Transformation of the CEO

Global CEO Turnover Index Annual Report 2024
Twelve months on from our inaugural Global CEO Turnover Index Annual Report, business and societal transformation continues to accelerate at pace.

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The Next CEO

Global CEO Turnover Index Annual Report 2023
As a leadership advisory firm focused on shaping what’s next, we at Russell Reynolds Associates have a relentless appetite for new data and insights that give our clients a competitive edge.

What is CEO turnover?

CEO turnover—the rate at which chief executives leave and join organizations—serves as a key economic indicator, reflecting both business confidence and broader market conditions. High turnover often signals companies' willingness to take risks and make strategic changes, while low turnover may indicate uncertainty or a preference for stability.

How has CEO turnover changed for public companies?

CEO turnover has increased since 2018 for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index, hitting a seven-year high in 2025, when 234 exited their roles globally.

Why is CEO turnover so high for public firms globally?

High CEO turnover is reflective of market volatility and the increased scrutiny of CEOs today among both boards and activist investors. This has also impacted the number of CEOs who are choosing to do the job more than once. We’re seeing more ‘step-up’ first-time CEOs appointed to the role; some of these are internal candidates as part of planned CEO succession, but some of them are external. In addition, many CEOs are now choosing to step down and retire from executive life rather than choosing to undertake a second CEO role elsewhere.

How many CEOs were appointed globally in 2025 at public companies?

There were 213 CEO appointments globally in 2025 for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index. This included:

  • 61 CEO appointments in the S&P 500.
  • 10 CEO appointments in the FTSE 100.

How many CEOs of public companies stepped down in 2025?

There were 234 CEO departures globally in 2025 for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index. This included:

  • 61 CEO departures in the S&P 500.
  • 14 CEO departures in the FTSE 100.

What is the proportion of women CEO appointments at public firms in 2025?

In 2025, women accounted for 19 CEO appointments globally (9% of all appointments). However, there are regional nuances. In 2025:

  • 5 women CEOs were appointed in the S&P 500, representing 8% of CEO appointments.
  • 3 women CEOs were appointed in the FTSE 100, representing 30% of CEO appointments.

What proportion of new CEOs of public companies were first-time CEOs?

In 2025, 86% of CEO appointments were first-time CEOs for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index. They had never held a CEO role at a public-listed company.

What’s the average tenure of CEOs at publicly listed companies?

In 2025, the average tenure of outgoing CEOs was 7.1 years, according to the CEO Turnover Index, down from 7.4 years in 2024, and 8.3 years in 2021.

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How we support boards through CEO turnover

Changing CEOs is a high-risk task. But done right, it becomes a powerful catalyst for business transformation and growth. We help boards mitigate the risks and maximize the opportunities.Discover more about our approach to CEO succession.

Global board & CEO advisory leaders

 

With more than 120 years of combined experience in executive search, our board and CEO advisory leaders ensure we bring the full power of our one-firm approach to your greatest leadership challenges. That means we bring together the right team to meet your organization’s needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Would you like to learn more about CEO succession best practices?

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Global CFO Turnover Index

Find out how many listed company Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are leaving and starting their posts each quarter globally.

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