According to a survey from The Conference Board, just 37% of U.S. CEOs say they are prepared for a recession, and 34% are prepared for high inflation.
Amid elevated inflation and a potential downturn, CEOs’ plans to grow profits in 2024 include introducing new products/services, investing in technology, increasing sales via marketing, and entering new markets.
C-Suite Outlook 2024 also revealed that just 4% of U.S. CEOs say they will prioritize a full-time return to the office. Consistent with past surveys, attracting and retaining talent remains the number-one internal focus for CEOs globally.
While the survey showed that CEOs and boards are fairly well aligned on ESG priorities, with education and economic opportunity topping the list, boards are less confident than executives that their companies are addressing ESG issues effectively, with rising ESG backlash.
For America’s CEOs, the biggest geopolitical threat is at home: the ballooning national debt came in as their top geopolitical risk in 2024.
The survey reflects the views of more than 1,200 executives, including 630 CEOs. Participants weighed in on the top business threats and opportunities in 2024. Respondents were primarily from four regions: the United States, Latin America, Japan, and Europe.
