The CFO and his or her organization have to be very agile these days, and that might not be their strongest competency
Chad Hesters,
President & CEO of Boyden
This article was originally published by Bloomberg.
CFO turnover has reached record levels in early 2025, with 95 leadership changes at listed companies in Q1—surpassing last year’s high. Companies like Starbucks, Porsche, Apple, and CVS have all recently replaced their finance chiefs amid economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and changing business demands. Many organizations are asking if their current CFOs are the right fit for this complex moment. Recruiters report a strong preference for proven CFOs with prior crisis leadership experience. Chad Hesters, CEO of global search firm Boyden, noted that agility is now critical, and not all CFOs are prepared for the current demands. His firm is expanding its financial officers practice in response to the surge in demand for adaptable, experienced finance leaders.
Nearly 60% of new CFOs in Q1 were promoted internally, with examples like Apple and Porsche choosing insiders. Tenures have decreased to an average of 5.8 years, and compensation is rising—base salaries increased 3–7%, and long-term incentives jumped 18% among top companies. Recruiters also say some CFOs are reluctant to change roles amid ongoing uncertainty. The article features insights from Reddit CFO Drew Vollero, who shared how the company prepared for its IPO with mock earnings calls and is leveraging AI for both advertising and user experience. The evolving CFO role now spans operations, digital strategy, and public communications, demanding more flexibility and leadership than ever before.
You can find the full article here.
