Explore CEO succession planning insights, best practices, and emerging trends with data from across Europe and the Middle East.

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Korn Ferry’s 2025 CEO Succession Study reveals a stark truth—many boards remain underprepared for CEO succession, despite it being among their most critical responsibilities.

Our report offers CEO succession planning insights that are essential for today’s governance leaders.

We looked at CEO succession planning data from the SBF 120 (France’s version of the S&P 120), plus a comparative analysis of 10 countries in Europe and the Middle East. The results, shared in the report, provide a comprehensive view of how companies are navigating leadership transitions today.

It’s a must-read for anyone tracking CEO succession in EMEA.

Key Findings From the Study Include:

• 50% of CEO successions were unplanned, up from 43% in 2023

• 33% of CEO appointments were interims, indicating a lack of board readiness for CEO succession

• 75% of new CEOs were promoted from within the organisation

• No women were appointed as new CEOs among this cohort in 2024

Board readiness for CEO succession is more than a governance checkbox. It’s a strategic imperative.

This study highlights where organisations are falling short and what they can do to strengthen their approach.

Whether you’re a board director, governance professional, or leadership advisor, this report provides the critical insights you need to prepare for CEO transitions and build strong leadership pipelines.

The article was first published by Korn Ferry.

Photo by Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash.