Globally, the average CEO tenure in 2025 dropped to 7.1 years, a six-year low mirroring pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Middle East CEOs respond to global pressuresCEOs across the Middle East are experiencing leadership pressures comparable to those shaping global turnover trends, with performance expectations and transformation mandates top priorities in the region. “Middle East CEOs are operating under the same global forces driving record CEO turnover worldwide, from geopolitical shocks and investor scrutiny to accelerated transformation,” said Nicolas Manset, Head of the Middle East at Russell Reynolds Associates. Progress in gender diversity for incoming leaders declined, with women representing 9% of incoming CEOs globally (down from 11% in 2024). About Russell Reynolds AssociatesRussell Reynolds Associates (RRA) is a global leadership advisory firm.