Singapore CEOs outlast global peers with longest tenure

APAC has recorded 59 CEO departures year to date, with Japan accounting for 48% of exits.

Singapore’s listed-company chief executive officers have the longest average tenure in Asia-Pacific, serving 8.8 years before departure, according to a report from Russell Reynolds Associates.

This is significantly longer than the regional average of 5.9 years for outgoing APAC CEOs and also surpasses the global average of 7.2 years, highlighting Singapore’s relative stability in executive leadership. By contrast, Hong Kong CEOs have an average tenure of just 3.7 years.

Across the region, CEO churn remains elevated. APAC has recorded 59 CEO departures year to date, with Japan accounting for 48% of exits.

In the third quarter, the region saw 12 CEO departures, 10 of which were in Australia. Globally, CEO departures are up 5% from a year earlier, reaching an eight-year high.

Boards are offsetting heightened turnover with a strong focus on internal succession. 83% of new CEO appointments in APAC this year have been internal promotions, compared with 72% globally.

At the same time, companies are showing greater willingness to install new leadership: 97% of incoming APAC CEOs are first-time chiefs, versus 88% worldwide.

The index covers listed companies on the ASX 200, Hang Seng Index, Nikkei 225, Nifty 50, and Straits Times Index.

Russell Reynolds Associates said the trends point to APAC boards deepening succession pipelines, relying more on internal elevation, and tapping first-time leaders to balance stability with transformation.

A NOTE FROM SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW

If you've been wondering whether SBR could work for your company — yes, probably.

A lot of the companies we partner with started as readers. They'd been following our coverage for a while, saw their own customers and competitors in it, and eventually asked the obvious question: could we do something with you? The answer is usually yes. The shape of it depends on what you're trying to do.

The options are broader than most people assume — thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. Some partners use one channel; most use a mix. We figure out the right combination by starting with your brief, not with our rate card.

So if the question has been on your mind, here's the easy way to ask it.

We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia