Leadership Gap Identified Among Nordic and Benelux Boardrooms
A leadership gap is emerging among boardrooms in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland) and the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), according to a new report by Heidrick & Struggles. The firm's Route to the Top survey found that nearly half of European respondents from these regions believe their current CEOs lack the skills needed for future challenges—higher than the overall 40% in Europe. One contributing factor is long CEO tenures, with Belgian CEOs averaging nine years and Swedish or Norwegian leaders staying an average of seven years. The report highlights concerns that evolving business conditions are outpacing leadership changes. With pressures from geopolitical tensions, energy costs, and AI disruption, nearly 90% of surveyed executives expect their company strategies to change soon. Talent consultants warn that boards may be struggling to find CEOs who can lead transformation efforts effectively—combining technology expertise with commercial acumen. Insularity is also cited as a potential issue in the Benelux region, where internal promotions are common and external perspectives less frequent.
Topics: Benelux boardroom dynamics CEOs governance models Nordic countries