CEO agenda

Our US CEO Outlook Pulse – January 2023 survey of 320 US CEOs finds the majority of  executives anticipating a recession and preparing for the unexpected. About half say they expect the US recession to be mild.

Virtually all respondents are factoring a potential downturn into their strategic models, even as a majority plan to pursue a merger or acquisition in the next 12 months. Most are weighing restructuring opportunities, including potential divestment. But they remain poised for growth and are ready to move when the time is right. Learn more about current deal intentions and plans for strategic alliances and M&A in our 2023 US and global reports.

Beyond the pandemic, CEOs need to reshape their portfolios, reimagine their ecosystem and reinvent themselves for a better future. Designing and delivering a strategy to optimize value for all stakeholders has never been more challenging. Executives must take bold actions to enhance their growth opportunities and reframe their futures.

Watch our EY-Parthenon video series on how CEOs can develop a strategy that is both ambitious and actionable

Market disruption has accelerated transformation and forced CEOs to reimagine their business models. Business leaders that focus on putting people at the center of everything they do, deploying technology at speed and innovating at scale will do more than lead the market – they will reshape markets and become exponential value creators. These leaders take a future-back approach to optimize for today’s success and plan for tomorrow’s disruption.

Pre-crisis, most organizations had been on a path to a future of work that was more agile, digital and people-centered, with an evolving skill need. COVID-19 has significantly accelerated that journey for all organizations on a scale they didn’t dream about 12 months ago. Companies are actively taking this opportunity to transform their organizations with customers and employees at the center of their efforts.

Today, societies demand greater responsibility from the organizations they work for, buy from and invest in. CEOs that anchor their strategies to a meaningful purpose, with a focus on creating long-term, sustainable impact across stakeholders, are best positioned to benefit from, demonstrate and measure the value they create.