What is the typical profile of a CFO in mid-cap companies in Switzerland? Were most internal hires, or external ones? Do most hold a Swiss passport? And what proportion are women?

To understand the CFO role in Switzerland, we recently analyzed the SMIM – an index of the 30 largest mid-cap stocks in the Swiss equity market. We found:

• • In a competitive market, companies are increasingly looking to step-up candidates, with 68% of CFOs being first-time in the role.

• • CFO succession planning has a long way to go, with 57% of SMIM companies hiring their CFOs externally.

• • CFO diversity remains a priority and a challenge, with women only accounting for 14% of CFO roles.

Route to the Top – SMIM Companies

Key considerations when looking for your next CFO

1. Be open-minded when it comes to CFO experiences.
   In an active market, reconsider what experiences are truly necessary for tomorrow’s CFO, especially when looking externally. Requirements, such as Group CFO experience, sector experience, and nationality, will drastically reduce your talent pool.
   
   

2. Develop robust CFO succession pipelines.
   Internal CFO candidates bring deep relationships and an in-depth knowledge of your company. Investing in CFO succession planning will strengthen your bench and mitigate the risk of turnover. Internal development can also be a good lever to increasing diversity, helping you avoid over-fishing a limited talent pool externally.