Key Findings

  • Nearly 40% of C-suite executives and senior managers have considered leaving their current positions in the past 12 monthsconsidered leaving their current roles, with half of them saying they think about it "often." The results come from a survey by resume-writing company TopResume.
  • The research shows that many C-suite executives are quietly planning their next career moves amid rising work pressure. The report elaborates on this.
  • The report states: "The motivations behind these thoughts of leaving challenge the assumption that executives are driven solely by compensation. While pay remains important, the primary pressures facing today's C-suite executives are more human and more complex."

Deeper Analysis

The study comes as global business leaders navigate multiple challenges, including rising geopolitical risks, heightened economic uncertainty, and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence.

Executives found business operations more difficult last year as they encounteredincreasing barriers in areas such as trade, talent, and cross-border capital flows. A report released this month by the World Economic Forum highlighted this trend.

AccountsIQ, a financial software company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, said in an October report thatchief financial officers (CFOs) are under particular pressure, often working long hours to meet expanding job demands.

According to data from leadership consulting firm Russell Reynolds Associates,the global CFO turnover rate in the first half of 2025 rose on an annualized basis to a seven-year high, driven mainly by higher retirement rates and a record number of CEO departures the previous year. CFO Dive previously reported this.

TopResume found that more than a third of C-suite professionals are actively applying for new positions and regularly networking, while another half are either open to the right opportunity or exploring when one arises.

One-third of respondents cited seeking better work-life balance as the primary reason for leaving. Other major reasons included burnout, stress, and the need for advancement.

Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopResume, said in an email: "Executives are in an always-on environment where mobile technology, global teams, and constant connectivity have completely blurred the lines between work and personal time. For many executives, the workday stretches from early-morning calls to late-night decisions, leaving almost no opportunity to truly disconnect."

Augustine also noted that leaders are being forced to do more with fewer resources and people, while also bearing the emotional burden of layoff decisions.

She said: "The combination of increased workload, added responsibility, and emotional drain can accumulate quickly. Add to that the shift in priorities after the pandemic—many professionals, including executives, began to seriously examine what they want their lives to look like—and it's no surprise that work-life balance has overtaken compensation as the primary driver of dissatisfaction."

TopResume said its report is based on a survey of 500 current and aspiring C-suite executives across various industries.