The Deloitte Global Boardroom Programme surveyed 695 board members (84%) and C-suite executives (16%) in 56 countries from January to February 2025. Some respondents may serve at multiple organisations as both executives and board members. This survey follows a survey conducted from May to July 2024, which had responses from 468 board members (86%) and C-suite executives (14%) in 57 countries. The changes noted between the results from the 2025 and the 2024 surveys are a percentage point change and have been calculated by subtracting the 2024 results from the 2025 results.

Responses were distributed across the Americas (43%), EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa) (43%), and Asia Pacific (14%). Among the respondents, 42% serve at publicly listed companies, while 42% serve at privately owned companies, including family-owned businesses. The rest came from a mix of government and state-owned enterprises, as well as nonprofits.

Industries represented include financial services (29%); manufacturing (15%); business and professional services (11%); energy and resources (9%); health care and pharmaceuticals (8%); technology (8%); retail and wholesale (5%); and various other industries (15%).

The survey includes respondents across a range of company sizes: 54% of respondents represent organisations with annual parent organisation revenues of less than US$1 billion, followed by those with revenues between US$1 billion and US$10 billion (28%), and those with values of US$10 billion or more (18%).

The Deloitte Global Boardroom Programme brings together the knowledge and experience of Deloitte member firms around the world to address critical topics of universal interest to company boards and the C-suite. Supplementing local geography programs, its mission is to promote dialogue among Deloitte practitioners, corporations and their boards and management, investors, the accounting profession, academia, and government. In addition to the publication of thought-pieces on critical topics, the Deloitte Global Boardroom Programme hosts a series of important webinar discussions with eminent panelists to enable boards and management of global companies to challenge perceived wisdom.

This report is the latest in Deloitte’s Frontier series, a set of research initiatives from the Deloitte Global Boardroom Programme that explores critical topics boards now face. Launched in 2021, the Frontier series has covered topics such as sustainability, digital transformation, trust, and talent.