Our perspectives and publications
Our specialists in audit, accounting, and financial advisory regularly publish a range of insights, opinions, and analyses.
Global C-suite barometer: outlook 2025 - Cutting through competition
20 February 2025
Our annual global C-suite barometer gathers the views of 1,700+ executives from all over the world.
Each year we uncover the strategic priorities on the C-suite’s agenda and the market trends expected to impact businesses in the years ahead.
This latest global study reveals a business world focused on opportunities for growth and expansion in a more competitive environment. 2025 is the year for C-suite executives to scale up and get ahead.
Key findings
- The majority (93%) of C-suite leaders worldwide have a positive growth outlook for their organisations – consistent with 2024 (94%) and up from 86% in 2023.
- Increased competition and heightened geopolitical instability are now the two biggest rising trends holding back growth for executives – 35% (up 13 points) and 30% (up eight points from 2024), respectively.
- Economic uncertainty remains a concern. It is expected to have the biggest impact on organisations (39%) followed by increased competition (33%).
- More than four in five businesses (83%) plan to expand to at least one new country in the next five years, with over 40% targeting three or more new countries.
- Just under half (43%) of organisations continue to report a struggle to recruit talented people.
While it’s encouraging to see a positive growth outlook for businesses, achieving growth in 2025 will mean navigating several key uncertainties. The overarching challenge will be maintaining strategic priorities and a clear vision amid new market entrants, continuing technological disruption and potential market turbulence if C-suite executives are to cut through increasing competition and lead their businesses to success in 2025.
C-suite barometer - UK data and insights launching March 2025
Insights from UK C-suite executives will be published in March, where we will share the top strategic priorities for UK businesses in 2025. Businesses are looking forward and building for what's next to cut through the competition.
Get in touch
If you have any questions in advance of our UK-focused release or would like to discuss anything in our global report, please get in touch.
Insights
We pride ourselves on our independent perspective: one that balances local and global, business and society, in a different way. We provide insights on the future of our profession and its role in building a fair and prosperous world. Through our publications, we highlight and share our views on the major changes that will impact the lives and business models of our clients, as well as on the megatrends...
Key contacts
Gareth Jones (Partner) Head of Growth: Mid-market and private client
