C-suite barometer 2026: TMT sector highlights

Nowhere does the theme of adapting in uncertainty resonate more strongly – it practically invented the concept as businesses disrupted markets and industries to innovate. It’s little surprise then, to see executives reprogramming and resetting strategies to leverage the opportunities generated by emerging technologies and AI – all the while navigating the headwinds of economic volatility, competitive intensity and geopolitical fragmentation.

• 52of sector leaders say artificial intelligence is the single most influential trend shaping their business.
• 76of TMT organisations are increasing investment across all business areas.
• 59of executives are most confident in AI delivering the best possible returns.

Confidence and a positive growth outlook remain remarkably resilient among leaders in the TMT sector. This is a clear indication of the strong fundamentals that continue to underpin the sector’s success and growth trajectory. Yet, there are some sharper anxieties that can’t be escaped. Leaders recognise the impact of economic uncertainty and rising competition on their business and most likely to hold back growth.  

This dual reality is creating a decisive shift in boardroom priorities. Technology transformation, of course, sits firmly at the top of the strategic agenda. More than half of executives identify the modernisation of IT and digital infrastructure as their number‑one priority, with international expansion and adapting business models to competition and tariffs following closely behind. Artificial intelligence continues its rapid advance as we discover 52% of TMT leaders claiming it as the most significant trend impacting their business, eclipsing even macroeconomic forces.

This sector is not merely experimenting with AI – it created the mould and is now reorganising around it as the technology also evolves at pace. In fact, the vast majority have restructured teams to embed new capabilities and the result is a workforce transformation: two‑thirds of companies confirm AI has created new jobs in their organisation. The investment appetite mirrors this momentum. Financial investment levels are rising across the board, with 76% of TMT organisations increasing investment – that’s five points up on 2025. Human‑capital investment stands at a similarly elevated 77%. So, there is plenty to be positive about.

This year also marks a renewed push for global expansion. More than nine in ten TMT leaders have international growth plans in motion. Many are increasing and widening the scope of their geographic targets, driven not only by ambition but by necessity. Geopolitical volatility and shifting trade policies are prompting leaders to rethink market exposure and diversify operations. The USA remains the top destinations for international expansion – again, unsurprisingly, but the emergence of Canada and Germany now in the top three destinations reflect a trend toward politically stable, digitally mature markets, pushing down tech powerhouse locations like China and the UK.

Yet the challenges ahead are not trivial and C-suite executives in this sector should not get complacent. Inflationary pressures, regulatory complexity and tariff‑driven cost changes will continue to test leadership resilience. The sector’s strongest performers will be those capable of responding with the scale of adaptability they’ve become known for, to enhance data security, accelerate AI deployment, strengthen operational efficiency and expand in markets that are set up to reward innovation. The uncertainties are real - but so are the opportunities for those prepared to adapt faster than the forces reshaping their industry.

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