The big trends impacting businesses
C-suite barometer: outlook 2025
Cutting through competition
Capturing the views of more than 170 C-suite leaders in Asia Pacific, the business outlook appears to be positive with 84% of executives remaining optimistic for business growth in the year ahead.
C-suite barometer: outlook 2025
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“Geopolitical and economic factors around the world are having some influence on the business activity in the region. While C-suite leaders here seem to be less concerned about the overall growth outlook, there may need to be a few changes to the plans they have in place to counter the more recent impact from global trade and tariffs on supply chain. Regardless, executives should remain focused on their strategic priorities that will deliver the most value, competitive advantage and success over the coming years. These will undoubtably rely on technology and the need to tackle challenges in hiring talented people if they want to grow and develop new products or services in international markets.”
Reg Forvis Mazars Group
Jean Francois Salzmann
47%
A lower proportion of C-suite leaders in the region than others globally (76%) have dedicated strategies for tech transformation.
66%
Digital transformation continues to focus on efficiency and productivity, with a commitment to achieving technology-driven efficiency gains exceeding that of other leaders globally. However, results show that there is more they can do to prepare for what’s next and maximise the opportunities technology can deliver to make them more competitive and sustain success.
C-suite leaders in the region are committed to transforming company IT and technology (35%), making it the top priority in their strategic growth plans.
New products
or services
Top C-suite priorities for business growth and transformation
IT and technology
Supply chains and operations
Talent in
the spotlight
Central and Eastern Europe
Africa and
Middle East
Latin
America
Central and Eastern Europe
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Economic uncertainty
38%
36%
40%
The main barrier to digital transformation is the level of internal expertise.
92%
Mark Kennedy
Confidence in tackling the key trends
Confidence among C-suite leaders has returned to 2023 levels, suggesting a more cautious and considered approach to tackling the key external trends expected to impact their business in the coming year.
43%
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> Discover key insights in the C-suite Barometer 2025
| Regional outlook: Asia Pacific
Increased competition
Supply chain restrictions or procurement challenges
There has been a big shift in the top five priorities of C-suite leaders in the region over the last 12 months.
C-suite leaders in the region have significant experience when it comes to setting up supply chains and streamlining operations that will deliver maximum efficiency across global markets to international customers and clients.
Like other executives around the world, C-suite leaders in Asia Pacific are dealing with a serious scarcity of talent and skills in the areas they are looking to develop and transform their business, but it does seem to be improving in this region.
42%
Economic uncertainty
42%
Economic uncertainty
are already using artificial intelligence for internal processes.
81%
confirm efficiency and productivity as the most important transformation priority.
60%
are already using artificial intelligence for internal processes.
81%
confirm efficiency and productivity as the most important transformation priority.
60%
have a dedicated strategy for technology transformation vs 76% globally.
87%
Having doubled in importance from 28% to 56% of the C-suite, leaders in the region clearly recognise the value in doubling down on opportunities to transform their business through technology.
new or revised sustainability strategies remain a top three strategic priority with executives in Africa.
27%
Now the second top priority of leaders, entering a new product or service has jumped three places, up from fifth place in 2024.
29%
Yet, economic uncertainty and the continued increase in competition are critical trends impacting businesses and the most likely factors expected to hold back growth, which comes through clearly in our results this year. Asian executives show greater concern over supply chain vulnerabilities than their global peers, reflecting the region’s crucial role in global manufacturing and mounting tensions in international trade.
30%
Energy prices/shortages
29%
National or international political tension/instability
More regulation locally or internationally is needed to control generative AI.
Talent in
the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New products
or services
IT and technology
We can now see executives responding to the increased competition in the market with new, additional offerings for their clients and customers.
Talent in
the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New products
or services
IT and technology
While it receives less attention in 2025, It’s still an essential strategic priority for their operations and leaders here show a greater focus than their global peers.
The third top priority for businesses, down from 34% and the top priority in 2024.
28%
Talent in
the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New products
or services
IT and technology
Half of executives still report difficulties with hiring talent, but this is down 7 points from 2024.
50%
New or revised talent strategies is in the top four priorities of leaders.
27%
34%
Increased competition
34%
Increased competition
Talent in the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New product
or services
IT and technology
There has been a big shift in the top five priorities of C-suite leaders in APAC in the last 12 months. We can now see executives responding to the increased competition in the market with new, additional offerings for their clients and customers.
Talent in the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New product
or services
IT and technology
Talent in the spotlight
Supply chains and operations
New product
or services
IT and technology
C-suite leaders in the region have significant experience when it comes to setting up supply chains and streamlining operations that will deliver maximum efficiency across global markets to international customers and clients. It’s still an essential strategic priority for their operations, but an area that has less attention in 2025.
More regulation locally or internationally is needed to control generative AI.
92%
The main barrier to digital transformation is the level of internal expertise.
40%
Capturing the views of more than 170 C-suite leaders in Asia Pacific, the business outlook appears to be positive with 84% of executives remaining optimistic for business growth in the year ahead.
C-suite leaders in the region are committed to transforming company IT and technology (35%), making it the top priority in their strategic growth plans.
C-suite leaders in the region have significant experience when it comes to setting up supply chains and streamlining operations that will deliver maximum efficiency across global markets to international customers and clients.
Regional Chair,
Forvis Mazars