SINGAPORE – Egon Zehnder, a premier global leadership advisory firm, has unveiled its comprehensive global CEO survey titled “The CEO Response.” Presented at the Berlin Global Dialogue, the study gathered insights from 1,235 CEOs worldwide, including 132 from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Over half of the APAC respondents, 53%, are or have been Group CEOs....Click to Read More >>➤
The findings reveal that leaders are confronting relentless geopolitical upheaval with enhanced adaptability. A striking 92% of global CEOs acknowledge the need to cultivate unprecedented levels of adaptability. While 72% perceive prospects for global prosperity as declining or stagnating, they report feeling significantly better equipped to manage this reality.
APAC leaders are addressing these universal challenges with a distinct and confident regional strategy. They share the top global challenge of economic uncertainty, cited by 43% in APAC compared to 44% globally. However, their focus is sharply oriented toward their people and regional dynamics.
Key Findings for APAC
A Confident Stride Forward
APAC leaders demonstrate measurably increased preparedness. The proportion of leaders feeling moderately unprepared dropped significantly from 24% in 2024 to just 17% this year. This indicates a rising confidence in navigating complex business environments.
A Strategic Focus on People
APAC CEOs place a greater emphasis on the human element than their global peers. Key concerns include “Talent acquisition and development,” highlighted by 42% of APAC leaders versus 38% globally. “Health and safety of my workforce” is a priority for 35% in APAC, compared to 20% globally. “Changing consumer behaviour” is a challenge for 36% of APAC CEOs, versus 25% worldwide.
Pivoting to Regional Partnerships
When identifying promising areas for new business partnerships, APAC leaders are looking closer to home. They overwhelmingly point to their own APAC region (51%) and India (50%) as primary hubs for future investment and trade. This regional focus forms a core part of their strategic response.
Adaptable Leadership Style
This growing confidence is built on a strong commitment to personal and team development. APAC leaders show a significantly stronger focus on adaptability, with 66% prioritizing it compared to 55% globally. They also place higher importance on listening (35% vs. 29% globally) and inclusion (27% vs. 19% globally).
A Stronger Mandate to Lead
APAC CEOs exhibit a greater sense of personal responsibility. Nearly half, 48%, believe they must help shape global prosperity outside their business. This compares to 40% of their international peers.
“Faced with global headwinds, APAC leaders are not waiting for the world to stabilise; they are actively building a more resilient future from within the region,” said Ang Wan May, Singapore Managing Partner at Egon Zehnder. “Our data demonstrates that APAC leaders are taking global uncertainty in their stride, and their confidence has measurably increased.”
Rise in APAC Leaders’ Confidence in Facing Complexity
This year’s study notes a notable rise in confidence among APAC leaders. The drop in those feeling moderately unprepared underscores a strategic shift. This confidence stems from a deep, personal investment in a more human-centric leadership style.
A significant 66% of APAC CEOs “Strongly Agree” on the need to cultivate adaptability. This commitment to an adaptable leadership approach is a defining characteristic of the regional response. It reflects a proactive strategy to ensure sustained growth.
Investing with a Regional Focus
Like their global peers, APAC leaders identify innovation (53%) as their top investment priority. However, their execution plan is distinctly regional. They are channelling resources into new strategic alliances and partnerships (46%) and investing in AI (45%) to power this vision.
This adaptable strategy emphasizes strengthening regional networks. The focus on the APAC region and India as key partnership destinations highlights a pragmatic ...Click to Read More >>➤
