Half of FTSE100 CEOs have finance background – Robert Half

Just over half of CEOs in Britain’s top companies have a background in finance and around a quarter are qualified chartered accountants, according to data from Robert Half. The latest figures show that:

• 66% of company leaders joined their current organisation from a role with another company in the same sector.
• A fifth had arrived in post within the last 12 months.
• The average tenure of Britain’s top executives is five years and three months.
• The number of women heading up FTSE100 companies increased by one to stand at six in early 2016, marginally higher than the four registered in 2011 and 2012.

Phil Sheridan, UK Managing Director at Robert Half, said:

‘In these increasingly complex global operating environments, leaders who are able to traverse the commercial landscape while maintaining strong fiscal responsibility are in greatest demand. This trend is supported by this year’s findings where experience within a single industry combined with a foundation in finance is what organisations seek from those taking the helm.’

For more information about the ninth annual Robert Half FTSE 100 CEO Tracker, please visit: www.roberthalf.co.uk/blog/how-become-ceo-what-makes-great-chief-executive