Most companies are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
88%
Leaders expect to transform their business, with technology and sustainability-related transformations being the most likely: nearly two thirds (62%) expect to transform their sustainability strategy in the coming years, second only to technology transformation (68%). Both have increased sharply – +18 percentage points vs 2020 – making them clear areas of focus moving forward.
Businesses are confident they can respond to the transformations ahead, are planning to invest and are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
Transformations ahead: technology and sustainability top the list
To tackle the transformations expected, make the most of investments planned and deliver on commitments, particularly related to ESG, businesses need to move beyond planning and intent into action. To do this they need the right programmes in place, and the right people with the right skills.
Discover more about the ESG topics businesses are focusing on, and the leadership skills they believe their organisation needs in the coming years, in our C-suite barometer.
Moving from strategy to action
Want to know more?
Lorraine Hackett
Contact
Group Brand &
Communications Director
C-suite barometer
Time for action
An average of 87% of leaders are confident their business can tackle the trends affecting them - an increase of 8 percentage points over last year.
87%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely.
62%
Two thirds expect their business to go through a technology transformation in the next three to five years.
68%
Remote working is here to stay: half expect increased remote or flexi-working to be a long-term change for their business.
50%
Adapting to remote working’ was the most significant challenge caused by Covid-19: almost half named it in their top three disruptions.
45%
Leaders expect trends in technology/innovation to have the biggest impact on their business in the coming years: they are confident they can respond and are planning to increase investment in IT systems.
The pandemic showed the world a new way of working, as businesses harnessed technology and adapted to remote working: this will be a major business legacy of the pandemic.
Harnessing the power of technology
Leaders are prioritising IT: 82% plan to increase investment in maintaining and evolving IT systems.
82%
Technology trends are firmly on executives’ radars: over half expect technology/innovation trends to have a major impact on their business in the next 3-5 years.
53%
Three quarters plan to increase investment in sustainability initiatives over the next 12 months – a 27-point increase.
75%
Half have already made public commitments to ESG issues including reducing waste (62%), reducing pollution (60%), human rights (58%), responsible supply chain (57%), diversity (51%).
50%
ESG (environmental, social and governance) is a clear priority for the C-suite: they expect to transform their sustainability strategy; most – particularly large businesses – say Covid-19 sharpened their focus on ESG. Around three quarters of businesses say they are either currently focusing or planning to focus on a range of ESG topics within the coming year.
ESG now firmly on the
C-suite agenda
Most (58%) say Covid-19 has sharpened their focus on ESG: in large companies ($1bn+ revenue) 70% say it has increased.
70%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely - an 18-point increase vs 2020.
62%
Most (63%) already report on sustainability and a further 25% plan to in the coming 12 months.
63%
Our C-suite barometer:
outlook 2022
Time for action
Over two-thirds are confident their data is completely protected.
A further 29% say their data is partially protected.
68%
More than a third think a significant data breach in the next 12 months is likely.
35%
Over half of respondents believe the cyber security risk to their organisation has increased over the past 12 months.
54%
Most leaders believe cyber risks have increased over the past year and over a third (35%) expect a significant breach within the next year. Yet, the majority of businesses (68%) remain confident their data is completely protected.
Cyber risks on the rise
In the Asia Pacific region, confidence amongst C-suite executives was lower than the global average, but still at a very high level. Leaders expect to transform their businesses, particularly in relation to technology and sustainability. Now is the time to take action in order to realise those intentions.
Insights from the Asia-Pacific region
> Learn more
In the Central and Eastern European region, many C-suite executives expect to transform their businesses, with technology- and sustainability-related transactions being the most likely. Leaders also report a significant change in the future leadership styles their organisation needs, driven by Covid-19.
Insights from the Central and
Eastern European region
In the dynamic markets of the Africa and Middle East region, we encountered high levels of confidence in responding to market trends and transformations, and a belief in future prosperity. Businesses have overcome extraordinary challenges, but are likely to be tested once again this year.
Insights from the Africa and
Middle East region
> Read more
In the Latin America region, we uncovered the highest levels of confidence and resilience of all regions globally, with almost all executives predicting revenue growth in 2022. However, Covid-19 is not over yet and we continue to face new challenges. Businesses will need to keep pushing through a volatile environment this year.
Insights from the Latin America region
Regional Insights
Asia - Pacific
Central and Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
already produce a sustainability report
77%
say remote working will be a long-term change
53%
are confident in their cyber security
69%
anticipate a technology transformation in their business
75%
say the future leadership styles their organisations needs have changed
52%
say the future leadership styles their organisations needs have changed
79%
of ESG investment is driven by brand/reputation
60%
say remote working will be a long-term change
41%
believe cyber risks have increased
51%
anticipate a technology transformation in their business
81%
> Read more
say the future leadership styles their organisations needs have changed
68%
already produce a sustainability report
67%
say remote working will be a long-term change
53%
believe cyber risks have increased
55%
anticipate a technology transformation in their business
60%
> Read more
say the future leadership styles their organisations needs have changed
60%
report investing in ESG is critical to business growth
48%
say remote working will be a long-term change
43%
believe cyber risks have increased
44%
anticipate a technology transformation in their business
67%
Asia - Pacific
Central and Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Latin
America
Central and Eastern Europe
Asia - Pacific
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Central and Eastern Europe
Asia - Pacific
Africa and
Middle East
Download the report
Download the report
C-suite barometer
Time for action
Want to know more?
Lorraine Hackett
Contact
Group Brand &
Communications Director
To tackle the transformations expected, make the most of investments planned and deliver on commitments, particularly related to ESG, businesses need to move beyond planning and intent into action. To do this they need the right programmes in place, and the right people with the right skills.
Discover more about the ESG topics businesses are focusing on, and the leadership skills they believe their organisation needs in the coming years, in our C-suite barometer.
Moving from strategy to action
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
Most (63%) already report on sustainability and a further 25% plan to in the coming 12 months.
63%
Three quarters plan to increase investment in sustainability initiatives over the next 12 months – a 27-point increase.
75%
Half have already made public commitments to ESG issues including reducing waste (62%), reducing pollution (60%), human rights (58%), responsible supply chain (57%), diversity (51%).
50%
Most (58%) say Covid-19 has sharpened their focus on ESG: in large companies ($1bn+ revenue) 70% say it has increased.
70%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely - an 18-point increase vs 2020.
62%
ESG (environmental, social and governance) is a clear priority for the C-suite: they expect to transform their sustainability strategy; most – particularly large businesses – say Covid-19 sharpened their focus on ESG. Around three quarters of businesses say they are either currently focusing or planning to focus on a range of ESG topics within the coming year.
ESG now firmly on the
C-suite agenda
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
Remote working is here to stay: half expect increased remote or flexi-working to be a long-term change for their business.
50%
Adapting to remote working’ was the most significant challenge caused by Covid-19: almost half named it in their top three disruptions.
45%
Technology trends are firmly on executives’ radars: over half expect technology/innovation trends to have a major impact on their business in the next 3-5 years.
53%
Leaders are prioritising IT: 82% plan to increase investment in maintaining and evolving IT systems.
82%
Leaders expect trends in technology/innovation to have the biggest impact on their business in the coming years: they are confident they can respond and are planning to increase investment in IT systems.
The pandemic showed the world a new way of working, as businesses harnessed technology and adapted to remote working: this will be a major business legacy of the pandemic.
Harnessing the power of technology
The cyber security report
The cyber security report
Over two-thirds are confident their data is completely protected. A further 29% say their data is partially protected.
68%
More than a third think a significant data breach in the next 12 months is likely.
35%
Over half of respondents believe the cyber security risk to their organisation has increased over the past 12 months.
54%
Most leaders believe cyber risks have increased over the past year and over a third (35%) expect a significant breach within the next year. Yet, the majority of businesses (68%) remain confident their data is completely protected.
Cyber risks on the rise
Most companies are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
88%
An average of 87% of leaders are confident their business can tackle the trends affecting them - an increase of 8 percentage points over last year.
87%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely.
62%
Two thirds expect their business to go through a technology transformation in the next three to five years.
68%
Leaders expect to transform their business, with technology and sustainability-related transformations being the most likely: nearly two thirds (62%) expect to transform their sustainability strategy in the coming years, second only to technology transformation (68%). Both have increased sharply – +18 percentage points vs 2020 – making them clear areas of focus moving forward.
Businesses are confident they can respond to the transformations ahead, are planning to invest and are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
Transformations ahead: technology and sustainability top the list
Our C-suite barometer is based on responses from over 1,000 C-suite executives from 39 countries around the world. Conducted in late 2021 we found businesses were confident in their ability to respond to the trends ahead, expecting to transform their businesses and planning to invest. ESG is firmly on the C-suite agenda and leaders are making public commitments. But is there a gap between intent and implementation?
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, geopolitics has made a rude return onto the corporate agenda, as the war added new disruption to supply chains and sparked an energy crisis, especially in Europe, with soaring prices and sharply curtailed supply. What are the implications for business leaders?
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Download the report
Our C-suite barometer:
outlook 2022
Time for action
Asia - Pacific
Central and
Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Asia - Pacific
Central and
Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Asia - Pacific
Central and
Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Click here to read our interview with Thomas Gomart, Director of the French Institute of International Relations about how geopolitical events have transformed the global economic map.
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Download the report
The cyber security report
Download the ESG report
The cyber security report
Download the ESG report
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
Download the report
Download the report