The research comes as CFOs take on an expanding set of responsibilities spanning areas such as capital allocation, mergers and acquisitions, and technology oversight, even as turnover and talent shortages continue to pressure the finance leadership pipeline.

CFO turnover is cooling from recent highs but remains elevated by historical standards, according to a recent report from Russell Reynolds Associates. Among public companies listed on major global stock indices, 4.9% appointed a new CFO in the first quarter of 2026, down from a record 5.2% a year earlier and marking the first year-over-year decline in CFO appointments since 2022, the firm said. Activity, however, remains above the seven-year Q1 average of 4.4%. READ MORE