Majority of CFOs want to become CEOs

THE majority of finance bosses want to reach the position of chief executive,  according to new research from Robert Half.

The survey of 200 UK chief financial officers found that 86% of CFOs want to reach the top job, but see the most competition for the role coning from marketing directors.

CFOs expect their greatest competition to come from marketing directors (23%), CIOs/CTOs (22%) and head of legal (21%).

Currently, finance professionals make up 55% of current FTSE 100 CEO’s having a background in finance. CFOs believe their knowledge in investor stakeholder management and 40% in economic and business awareness, sets them apart from the rest.

Phil Sheridan, senior managing director at Robert Half UK, UAE and South America, said: “The ‘perfect’ CEO will combine strong functional and technical knowledge to drive the business objectives in a competitive landscape. As CEOs continue to be challenged with improving the organisation’s financial position and increasing shareholder value, hiring an individual with a strong financial background is often key. As new challenges can impact the wider business, companies should regularly review their succession planning strategies to develop potential leaders as early as possible.”