Q1 2025 Asia CHRO Turnover Trends & Leadership Insights

Asia Records Less Than 1% CHRO Turnover in Q1 2025 Amid Rising Global Departures

17 June 2025, Singapore – New data from Russell Reynolds Associates’ (RRA) Global CHRO Turnover Index indicates that Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) turnover in Asia remained notably low in Q1 2025, with no year-on-year increase across the region’s major markets. This is lower than the global CHRO turnover rate of approximately 2.6% during the same period.

The Global CHRO Turnover Index tracks the appointment and departure of CHROs, the most senior HR executives, across large-listed companies in key markets worldwide. The Index draws from constituent companies of major stock indices, including the ASX 200 (Australia), Hang Seng (Hong Kong), Nikkei 225 (Japan), STI (Singapore), NSE Nifty 50 (India), as well as leading indices in North America and Europe. The Index also analyses trends in turnover rates, tenure, and the balance of internal versus external appointments, providing a comprehensive view of executive movement at the top of the HR function.

Asia’s stability stands out amid global change

Globally, 54 CHROs departed their roles in Q1 2025 – a 15% increase from 47 in Q1 2024 and 32% above the six-year Q1 average of 41. The S&P 500 accounted for more than half of these departures, underscoring the volatility in key Western markets.

In Asia, turnover rates remained flat year-on-year. Hong Kong, Singapore, and India reported zero CHRO departures in both Q1 2025 and Q1 2024, while Japan recorded just one CHRO departure, and Australia had six departures.

Leadership tenure in Asia highlights regional consistency

In Asia, CHRO leadership stability remains notable: in markets where departures occurred, specifically Japan and Australia, all outgoing CHROs had served more than two years in their roles. In other key Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and India, no CHRO departures were recorded in Q1 2025, limiting available tenure data but further underscoring the region’s low turnover.

In contrast, the average tenure for outgoing CHROs globally declined to 4.1 years in Q1 2025, down from 4.5 years in Q1 2024 and well below the six-year average of 6.1 years. Nearly one in five (19%) CHROs worldwide exited their roles within two years, highlighting a global trend toward shorter leadership durations amid rising role complexity.

External hires lead CHRO appointments in Asia

In both Q1 2025 and Q1 2024, external candidates accounted for the majority of new CHRO appointments in Asia, comprising 75% of hires in markets where turnover occurred. This stands in contrast to the global trend, where internal promotions have become increasingly prevalent: globally, 58% of CHRO appointments in Q1 2025 were internal, up from 50% a year earlier.

Concurrently, there was a notable increase in women CHRO appointments in Q1 2025, accounting for 85% of appointments globally, a trend similarly matched in Asia. This marks a rise from 74% in Q1 2024, underscoring the growing emphasis on gender diversity at the senior HR level.

Asia’s continued reliance on external talent, amid regional leadership stability, highlights a preference for bringing in new perspectives at the top HR level, diverging from the global emphasis on cultivating leaders from within.

Michelle Chan Crouse, Asia lead for Consumer Packaged Goods and Human Resources Practices, said: “While CHRO turnover in Asia remains low, we are seeing a clear trend toward appointing external candidates to these critical roles. This shift reflects the rising demand for fresh perspectives and specialised expertise as organisations navigate greater complexity and transformation. Looking ahead, companies will also need to balance this approach with investments in internal leadership development to build resilience and support long-term sustainability in their people strategies.”

Evolving CHRO Role Drives Turnover

The surge in global CHRO turnover reflects the CHRO’s elevated and increasingly central role alongside the CEO. As organisations navigate a succession of economic and political disruptions, competition for experienced CHROs has intensified dramatically over the past five years. Today’s CHROs are not only key allies for CEOs, helping manage complex internal restructurings and respond to unpredictable external shocks, but are also expected to lead enterprise-wide transformations, from AI integration to leadership development and cultural change.

Notably, the Tech industry is experiencing one of its higher turnover quarters since 2018, with approximately 6.2% of Tech companies (13 out of 211) reporting CHRO departures in Q1 2025. This is higher than the global average of 2.6% and underscore the particular pressures faced by these industries amid rapid innovation and operational complexity.

The dynamic between CEO and CHRO is now a critical factor in executive team stability. This expanded mandate requires a rare combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and change management expertise, contributing to both the rising expectations and accelerated turnover seen in the global market.

Media Contacts

Russell Reynolds Associates
Joann Chin
joann.chin@russellreynolds.com