‘Strategic pause’: Global CEO turnover declines in first half of 2025

The report attributed the decline to organisational caution and policy uncertainty, as organisations take a “wait and see” approach amid regulatory and trade policy shifts.

“After a period of significant change in 2024, many companies are prioritising stability as a result of economic consolidation,” Combe said.

According to the index, 76% of incoming CEOs were internally promoted, matching H1 2024 levels and indicating a focus on developing internal candidates.

“There is also a clear trend towards developing internal talent to ensure leadership continuity and deep organisational knowledge,” Combe said.

“While the current turnover data suggests companies adopted a wait and see approach in H1, this quieter period may be an early indicator of CEO turnover picking up in the second half of the year.”