Disrupt and Grow: 2017 Global CEO Outlook

Welcome to this third annual KPMG Global CEO Outlook, offering deep insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by nearly 1,300 CEOs leading many of the world’s largest and most complex businesses. The research offers a unique lens through which to view the strategic issues these CEOs are focusing on as they lead their businesses through a period of profound change and significant opportunity.
In last year’s Global CEO Outlook, we said it was “now or never” for CEOs focused on making transformative change in their companies. In the year since, many top executives have clearly made progress toward achieving their goals.
But those 12 months have also seen new waves of uncertainty that are compelling CEOs to think in fresh ways about the disruptive forces impacting their businesses. Our advice of “now or never” still stands, but the CEOs we have spoken with are telling us that in the face of new challenges and uncertainties, they are feeling urgency to “disrupt and grow.”
This year’s Outlook emphasizes that disruption has become a fact of life for CEOs and their businesses as they respond to heightened uncertainty. But importantly, most see disruption as an opportunity to transform their business model, develop new products and services and reshape their business so it is even more successful than it has been in the past.
The majority of CEOs we spoke with for this year’s study are still optimistic about their company and its prospects, as well as the national and global economy they operate within, although less so than last year.
They say they are taking the necessary steps for their business to be a disruptor, rather than the disrupted.
They recognize the impact of increased geopolitical and economic uncertainties on their business, and are working hard to be prepared. Moreover, they understand that speed to market and innovation are strategic priorities for growth in these uncertain conditions.
With continued pressure to deliver on the bottom line, CEOs are keenly focused on managing their business’ core strengths while transforming the way they create value.
Operating in a more complex and rapidly changing environment is also challenging CEOs like never before, with an expanding breadth of skills and expertise needed to lead their organizations. CEOs need to stimulate innovation, oversee new types of customer relationships, manage heightened reputational risks and make bold decisions about their investments in technology.
In the wake of these challenges, it isn’t surprising that a significant number of the CEOs we spoke with say they are working to develop new skills and capabilities, as well as exploring new ideas exploring new ideas and influences, so as to drive essential change across the business.
Our 2017 Global CEO Outlook offers rich insights into the major forces disrupting today’s business landscape, and how today’s CEOs are equipping their companies, and themselves, to manage the challenges of the future.
On behalf of KPMG, I would like to thank every one of the CEOs we spoke with for their candor.
We are excited to talk further about these insights, and KPMG’s partners and professionals welcome the opportunity to discuss how you can ‘disrupt and grow’ your organization.
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