# FTSE 100 hiring more international leaders Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2018-04-24 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Global Trend to Hire FTSE CEOs from Abroad Meta Description: Discover the latest trends in CEO hiring with insights from Robert Half - insights on globalisation, loyalty, and the rise of tech-savvy leaders. URL: https://financedigest.com/ftse-100-hiring-more-international-leadershtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd240418-1-2-1736842819024-compressed.jpg) - Last three years sees strong trend to hire globally – 47% of external appointments were from outside the UK - Eight new FTSE 100 CEO hires this year are British citizens, while six have come from abroad - 60% of CEOs appointed through internal promotion last year were British Globalisation and the need to keep up with international trends have led to an increase in the number of global CEOs now leading the FTSE’s largest listed companies, although UK CEOs remain the first choice, according to the [**Robert Half FTSE 100 CEO Tracker**](https://www.roberthalf.co.uk/expertise-advice/research-insights/reports-guides/ftse-100-ceo-tracker?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=rh-cli-ftseceotracker-apr2018). The total number of UK [CEOs leading](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-investors-question-plan-for-ceo-to-lead-porsche-listing.html "Volkswagen investors question plan for CEO to lead Porsche listing") the FTSE 100 has slipped to 61 of the total 100 companies, from 65 a year ago, making way for global CEOs to make their mark. Loyalty among FTSE leaders is rewarded, however, and of the 40 CEOs on the Robert Half FTSE 100 Tracker who received their CEO position through internal promotion, 60% are [British nationals](https://www.financedigest.com/british-home-secretary-calls-on-other-nations-to-help-take-in-afghan-refugees.html "British Home Secretary calls on other nations to help take in Afghan refugees"). This has almost doubled since 2015 – when just 21 of the new CEOs [appointed](https://www.financedigest.com/cavai-appoints-mats-persson-as-ceo.html "Cavai appoints Mats Persson as CEO") from within the organisation and indicates that loyalty and company experience are top values for a UK CEO. Interestingly, [nearly half](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-to-take-nearly-half-of-sales-made-by-its-metaverse-creators-as-fees.html "Meta to take nearly half of sales made by its metaverse creators as fees") (47%) of those CEOs who were hired externally for the top position were of other nationalities and of the 14 new CEO hires made this year, eight were of UK heritage while six are leaders from the rest of the globe, edging the dial ever closer to a 50/50 split. “Globalisation is blurring geographic lines for mega-companies in the UK and abroad, and businesses with a [global outlook](https://www.financedigest.com/aquaponics-market-critical-insights-key-trends-global-outlook-forecast-till-2031.html "Aquaponics Market Critical Insights, Key Trends, Global Outlook & Forecast Till 2031") will be tomorrow’s dominant players,” says **Charlie Grubb, UK Managing Director at Robert Half Executive Search**. “Even in times of [economic uncertainty](https://www.financedigest.com/why-a-liberated-cfo-and-fintech-solution-are-a-dream-partnership-for-navigating-economic-uncertainty.html "Why a liberated CFO and fintech solution are a dream partnership for navigating economic uncertainty") and change, the UK’s largest listed companies can only benefit from an inclusive, broad-minded and global approach to problem solving. It is positive to see that this [approach](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-planning-starts-with-a-new-approach-to-budgeting-and-forecasting.html "How financial planning starts with a new approach to budgeting and forecasting") is also being addressed through succession planning.” As globalisation brings new challenges and attracts new personalities, it is interesting to note that while the ‘average’ FTSE CEO remains a British male in his mid-50s, the number of [CEOs](https://www.financedigest.com/adidas-shares-leap-on-results-but-ceo-warns-of-bumpy-year.html "Adidas shares leap on results but CEO warns of bumpy year") in their 40s has increased from eight last year to 14 this year. A number of other factors are also [challenging the traditional CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/big-bank-ceos-to-sell-lawmakers-on-relief-diversity-efforts-amid-economic-regulatory-challenges.html "Big bank CEOs to sell lawmakers on relief, diversity efforts amid economic, regulatory challenges") profile: - Whilst a financial background is still the preferred path to CEO, the number of CEOs with financial experience continues to decline. This [year](https://www.financedigest.com/is-2022-the-year-green-finance-incorporates-climate-risk.html "Is 2022 the year green finance incorporates climate risk?") 40% of CEOs have a financial background, indicating a 15% drop since 2016 (55%) - Last year the Robert Half FTSE 100 [CEO Tracker found that leaders with a background in tech](https://www.financedigest.com/tech-ceos-wax-poetic-on-ai-big-adds-to-sales-will-take-time.html "Tech CEOs wax poetic on AI, big adds to sales will take time") were on the rise. This year the number of ‘tech-savvy CEOs’ [remains steady](https://www.financedigest.com/phenolic-resins-market-is-expected-to-remain-steady-and-grow-with-a-cagr-value-of-4-in-the-forecast-period.html "Phenolic Resins Market is expected to remain steady and grow with a CAGR value of ~4% in the forecast period") at 11%. This indicates that [FTSE firms feel confident in their technology capabilities even ahead](https://www.financedigest.com/cyclicals-bat-drag-ftse-100-lower-ahead-of-fed-decision.html "Cyclicals, BAT drag FTSE 100 lower ahead of Fed decision") of the introduction of disruptive events such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and digital transformation across industries - Findings also show that the UK’s [top firms are no longer playing on the FTSE 100 ‘merry-go-round’ and are looking beyond their FTSE peers with CEOs being appointed from other FTSE firms dropping steadily over the last four years](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says") (from 24% in 2015 to 19% in 2018). The education path to CEO also paints an interesting picture from university to additional qualifications. Eight out of ten FTSE CEOs (80%) hold a university degree or higher, with a split in degree choice as follows: - 28% have BA degrees (21% in 2017) - 21% have BSc degrees (27% in 2017) - 24% of FTSE CEOs have gone on to complete an MBA (23% in 2017) - 5% have a PhD (4% in 2017) - While Oxbridge qualifications increased to 18% (16% in 2017) “We’re seeing an evolving leadership landscape whereby traditional backgrounds may no longer be the set criteria for leading the [top firms](https://www.financedigest.com/lyme-disease-treatment-market-forecast-to-2031-made-available-by-top-research-firm.html "Lyme Disease Treatment Market Forecast to 2031 Made Available by Top Research Firm") of the future. Global experience, education and values such as loyalty and tenure, however, will [always be important](https://www.financedigest.com/having-a-will-is-always-important-but-why-is-it-so-much-more-important-when-a-child-is-vulnerable-or-has-a-disability.html "Having a Will is always Important but Why is it so Much More Important When a Child is Vulnerable or has a Disability? "), especially as millennials come to the forefront and take up leadership positions in their own right,” concludes **Grubb**. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---