CEO turnover hits eight-year high as Asia-Pacific boards double down on internal talent

CEO turnover surged to an eight-year high in 2025, underscoring intensifying pressure on top leaders and placing renewed focus on succession planning and internal talent development, according to Russell Reynolds Associates’ (RRA) latest Global CEO Turnover Index.

Globally, 234 CEOs stepped down in 2025, a 16% increase from 2024. The Asia-Pacific region recorded 87 CEO departures—a 26% year-on-year rise—with most markets posting their highest number of exits in seven years. The data reflect mounting scrutiny of the board as leaders contend with economic uncertainty, faster technology adoption, regulatory complexity, and increasingly demanding stakeholders.

Australia and Japan accounted for the largest share of CEO exits in Asia-Pacific, with 34 and 31 departures, respectively. Hong Kong recorded 10 CEO exits, followed by India with seven and Singapore with five.

Despite the elevated turnover, boards across Asia-Pacific continue to demonstrate strong performance in promoting from within. In 2025, 73% of new CEO appointments in the region were internal hires, slightly above the global figure of 68%. The preference signals a strategic effort to retain institutional knowledge and cultural continuity amid heightened volatility, underscoring the importance of robust internal leadership pipelines.

CEO tenures also continued to shorten. Globally, the average outgoing CEO tenure declined to 7.1 years in 2025, down from 7.4 years in 2024 and well below the 8.3-year average recorded in 2021 and 2023. Asia-Pacific reported a shorter average tenure of approximately 5.9 years. Australia recorded an average of 6.3 years, Japan 5.9 years, Hong Kong 4.7 years, and India 4.8 years—well below its long-term average of 7.1 years.

Singapore stood out for relative stability, with outgoing CEOs averaging 7.3 years in tenure, although this remains below the city-state’s historical average of 10 years.

“Sustained high levels of CEO turnover should be expected given the environment leaders are operating in today and indeed, how long boards are willing to wait for results,” stated Euan Kenworthy, Country Lead, Singapore, RRA. He noted that increased investor scrutiny, regulatory demands, and faster technology adoption have narrowed the margin for error, prompting boards to make decisions earlier in the CEO lifecycle.

READ MORE: CEOs in APAC double down on people and adaptability to navigate global instability

Another defining trend in 2025 was the prevalence of first-time CEOs. Across Asia-Pacific, 94% of newly appointed CEOs were first-time leaders, closely aligned with the global figure of 86%. The shift suggests boards are placing greater emphasis on learning agility, decision-making under pressure, and the ability to rapidly build leadership teams, rather than prior CEO experience alone.

The data also indicate a shift toward more structured transitions. Planned successions accounted for 32% of global CEO departures in 2025, up from 22% the year before, overtaking retirements for the first time on record. The trend highlights the growing importance of proactive, forward-looking succession planning in an increasingly demanding leadership landscape.