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.

Global CEO Turnover Index: Key Trends

01	A record year for CEO turnover. In total, 202 CEOs left their posts in 2024—significantly higher than the six-year average of 186. This surge in CEO turnover is largely driven by market volatility and the increased scrutiny of CEOs today. This has also impacted the number of CEOs who are choosing to do the job more than once. We are 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. We’re also seeing that many CEOs are now choosing to step down and retire from executive life rather than undertaking a second CEO role elsewhere.

02	The transformation of the CEO role and pathway. Global CEO turnover in the tech sector increased by 90% in 2024. This is largely driven by investment in AI, digital infrastructure, and software, which has triggered the creation of new or growing companies requiring CEO talent. The tech sector also recorded the lowest number of incoming CEOs with CEO experience—at 8%.

03	Internal CEO appointments hit an all-time high. In 2024, 22% of all CEO departures occurred because of a planned CEO succession process—the highest level ever recorded. In line with this trend towards longer-term succession planning, 2024 also saw a record number of leaders promoted from within their organization, with this group making up 73% of all incoming CEOs, above the six-year average of 69%.

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 six-year high in 2024, when 220 CEOs were appointed 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. 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 2024 at public companies?

There were 220 CEO appointments globally in 2024 for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index. This included:

60 CEO appointments in the S&P 500.
27 CEO appointments in ASX 200.
14 CEO appointments in the FTSE 100.

How many CEOs of public companies stepped down in 2024?

There were 202 CEO departures globally in 2024 for the companies listed on the 13 indices tracked in the CEO Turnover Index. This included:

58 CEO departures in the S&P 500.
27 CEO departures in ASX 200.
12 CEO departures in the FTSE 100.

What is the proportion of women CEO appointments at public firms in 2024?

Women remain largely underrepresented in the CEO role across the world as per the CEO Turnover Index. In 2024, women accounted for 24 of CEO appointments globally (11% of all appointments), compared to 196 for men. However, there are regional nuances. In 2024:

9 women CEOs were appointed in the S&P 500, representing 15% of CEO appointments.
2 women CEOs were appointed in the ASX 200, representing 7% of CEO appointments.
2 women CEOs were appointed in the FTSE 100, representing 14% of CEO appointments.

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

In 2024, 85% of 220 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 2024, the average tenure of outgoing CEOs was 7.4 years. However, there are some interesting nuances according to the CEO Turnover Index.

Internal vs. external hires. Internal CEO hires had longer tenures than external CEO hires. On average, internal CEO tenures were 1.2 years longer than external CEO hires.

Men vs. women. Women CEOs had shorter tenures than men in 2024. On average, women lasted 5.9 years in the CEO role globally, compared to 7.6 years for men. There is significant variation across the globe. Only in the STI, FTSE 250, and S&P/TSX Composite do women CEOs stay in the role longer than men.

ASX 200: -3.4 years
S&P 500: -5.2 years
FTSE 100: -3.6 years

First-time CEOs vs. seasoned CEOs. First-time public company CEO tenures were 1.8 years longer than those who had previous CEO experience.

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