Ward Howell Releases CEO Succession 2014

A report by Ward Howell provides an overview of the primary trends that have occurred in the turnover of general directors within the insurance, metallurgy and construction industry during 2014. The report finds that in 2014, the rate of CEO turnover remains high and could increase in 2015. Though the industry is characterized by frequent CEO replacements, a sharp increase in the number of replacements in a given industry can indicate a systemic crisis. Ward Howell believes that 2015 will set a record for new incoming leaders, similar to the record set during the 2009 crisis.

Of those CEOs who left office in 2014, they spent an average of 4.5 years in their positions, which is longer than the average term of 3 years. One of the most significant findings in the report is the amount of internal candidates promoted to CEO. The high number of insiders is a sign of a company’s maturity.

The full report has been published on Ward Howell’s website. Read the full report.