Half of 2026 CHRO appointments are internal first-timers, an eight-year high
Key points
- 50% of global CHRO appointments in Q1–Q3 2026 were internal first-timers, the highest in eight years
- External first-timers fell to a record-low 14%; experienced CHROs made up 36%, versus 38% in 2019
- 126 CHROs were appointed in Q1–Q3, broadly in line with the eight-year Q1–Q3 average of 124
Russell Reynolds Associates' Global CHRO Turnover Index found that 50% of global CHRO appointments in the first through third quarters of 2026 were internal hires with no prior public-company CHRO role, the highest in the index's eight-year series. External first-timers fell to a record-low 14%, while experienced CHROs made up 36%, versus 38% in 2019. A total of 126 CHROs were appointed in Q1–Q3, broadly in line with the eight-year Q1–Q3 average of 124.
Original report: Human Resources Director ↗AI-assisted brief; may contain inaccuracies. Rely on the original reports and official documents.