What Makes A Top CEO?

For the past nine years, Spencer Stuart has conducted research on the developmental background and professional experience of the CEOs of leading companies in the US.

This year their research was conducted among CEOs of S&P 500 companies.

Their top findings:

• The percentage of new CEOs over age 50 has increased from 64% to 69% over the past year.
• 62% of all S&P 500 CEOs have earned an advanced degree beyond their undergraduate degree (this includes M.B.A.s, other master degrees, PhDs, etc.).
• Since 2000, the percentage of top 100 CEOs who followed one functional path (general management) throughout their career has decreased from 25% to 8%

Check out all the detailed demographics here.


(Tip of the Hat to Rob May, over at BusinessPundit for this one!)