Finance professionals dominate FTSE 100 CEO list - Featured Image | CEO Monthly

Finance professionals dominate FTSE 100 CEO list

Image

Finance professionals dominate FTSE 100 CEO list

Over half (51%) of all current FTSE 100 company CEOs have a background in finance, with almost one in five (18%) holding accountancy qualifications. That’s according to analysis by specialist recruiter, Global Accounting Network, which researched the education and career history of the acting heads of each FTSE 100 firm.

Commenting on this trend, Adrian O’Connor, Founding Partner of Global Accounting Network, said:

“We’ve previously noted that the role of the CFO has expanded in its remit and increased in significance in recent years, and the fact that more finance professionals seem to be stepping into top leadership roles is a natural progression of this.

“With UK firms coming out of the back of a recession, it stands to reason that boards and shareholders are increasingly realising the value of strong financial expertise at the highest levels. CFOs have had a much greater say in the strategic direction of firms of late, with their input being widely recognised as absolutely integral to the company’s success. With this in mind, the fact that accountants are disproportionately represented at the top of FTSE 100 firms is unsurprising.

“Traditionally, promoting senior professionals with a strong background in sales or marketing into the top job was often viewed as a sure fire way to boost a company’s fortunes. In today’s climate, however, CEOs with solid grounding in finance are finding that their skills tally with the fundamental needs of businesses, a trend exemplified by London Stock exchange CFO David Warren stepping up to interim Chief Executive after Xavier Rolet stepped down late last year.”

Want to Be Recognised? Enter Our Awards Today!

Learn how to get recognised for your achievements and become a nominee in our prestigious awards programmes. Discover the criteria and steps needed to showcase your leadership excellence.

Find Out More
Get recognised banner - woman holding device

You might also like

Explore insights and updates tailored for business leaders and innovators, curated to inspire success.

December 1, 2023 Creating a Thriving Learning Culture: Four Obstacles to Overcome

Embracing a learning culture in the workplace is a great way to help your business and people thrive. When companies get this right, it is estimated they are 92% more likely to be innovative and 37% more productive.

June 7, 2018 United We Stand

In 2016 Altia Solutions was almost a victim of its own success. Having begun as an idea in the CTO’s head, the firm had grown to become the leading provider of software for financial and criminal investigations conducted by police forces and enfor...

May 20, 2019 The Creative Industry Is Dying’ — How A Career In Art Could Still Be Viable

Despite what most people think, the creative industry is thriving. So much so, that in 2017, the value of the sector stood at £101.5bn — which was a significant increase from its £94.8bn valuation back in 2016.