Gartner HR Survey Reveals More Than Half of C-Suite Leaders Are Likely to Leave Over the Next Two Years; 27% Likely to Leave Within Six Months
The October 2024 Gartner survey of 200 CxOs revealed that 27% reported they are likely or extremely likely to leave in the next six months. The survey also found that executives are reporting an increase in workload compared to two years ago:
- 67% agreed they are asked to do more in their role
- 58% agreed their organization relies more heavily on their function/business unit
- 44% agreed they are more stressed by their work responsibilities
“Heightened executive turnover is a challenge for organizations as a less-tenured executive team typically means lower enterprise growth, which is the most important metric organizations rely on to track enterprise performance,” said Alexander Kirss, Senior Principal in the Gartner HR practice. “Compounding the issue, more tenured executives are more likely to leave within the next two years than executives who are newer in their roles.”
Figure 1: High CxO Turnover Expected Through 2026
Source: Gartner (October 2024)
“CHROs have a key role in mitigating CxO attrition, however they face headwinds,” continued Kirss. “Fewer than one in four CxOs say their CHRO is effective at strengthening the C-suite’s ability to function as a cohesive team. On top of that, just 23% of CxOs report their CHRO is effective at managing tension between C-suite members.”
Despite these challenges, there are CHRO-led solutions that can address the key causes of CxO turnover, such as:
“Twenty three percent of CxOs report their CHRO is effective at managing tension between C-suite members.” – Alexander Kirss, Senior Principal
