CFOs Rising: Finance Leaders Increasingly Take CEO Roles

• A significant leadership shift sees Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) increasingly appointed to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) roles, both in India and globally.
• Research indicates a growing trend: 8.4% of vacant Fortune 500 and S&P 500 CEO roles in 2023 were filled by CFOs, the highest since 2013.
• Analysis of BSE-listed companies shows 45% of outgoing CFOs who took new assignments moved into CEO or divisional CEO roles within their organizations.
• Prominent examples include PB Balaji (Jaguar Land Rover), Nik Jhangiani (Diageo), Manish Dawar (Devyani International), and Prashant Kumar (Yes Bank).
• This trend highlights boards' increasing confidence in finance leaders to navigate volatility, capital discipline, and structural transformation.