The 2025 Global CEO Turnover Index by Russell Reynolds Associates reveals a record-high CEO turnover globally, with the Asia Pacific (APAC) region experiencing its highest number of departures in seven years. In 2025, 234 CEOs exited their roles worldwide, marking a 16% increase from 2024. APAC alone saw 87 departures, a 26% rise from the previous year.
The report highlights a significant trend in APAC, where 94% of new CEO hires were first-time leaders, and 73% of appointments were internal promotions. This indicates a strategic shift towards leveraging internal talent and fresh perspectives to navigate complex market conditions. Euan Kenworthy, Country Lead for Singapore at Russell Reynolds Associates, noted, “The role of the CEO has become materially harder, burdened by increased media scrutiny, a more demanding investor base, faster technology adoption, and regulatory challenges.”
CEO tenures have also shortened, with the global average declining to 7.1 years from 7.4 years in 2024. In APAC, the average tenure is now 5.9 years, with Singapore’s outgoing CEOs showing a slightly longer tenure of 7.3 years. This trend reflects increased board scrutiny and a proactive approach to leadership changes.
For the first time, planned CEO successions (32%) surpassed retirements (26%) as the primary reason for departures. Kenworthy emphasised the importance of robust succession planning, stating, “Getting CEO succession right has never been more important, or more complex.” As organisations face heightened expectations and market volatility, the focus is on building a strong leadership pipeline to ensure continuity and adaptability.
