INDUSTRY UPDATES: The Annual Report

Dynamic shifts and transformative forces often characterize the business landscape–especially in 2024 as political events, volatile markets, international conflicts, and fluctuating commodity prices roiled the world. Yet, the executive market demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout, yielding a continuous flow and high volume of executive opportunity in the form of job changes and newly created positions. As we move into 2025, these trends are accelerating, presenting both challenges and unique opportunities for executives across diverse sectors.

This annual report highlights several key trends that impacted executive opportunities:

• The continued recovery from the pandemic is reshaping consumer behaviors, driving growth in some sectors, while others face structural challenges.
• Normalization of supply chains is easing logistical hurdles but prompting some industries to restructure, even as a tendency toward protecting home markets fosters more on- and near-shoring.
• A shift towards interest income over deal-making impacted financial strategies over the past two years and required new executive skills, but the pendulum is rapidly swinging back toward deal-making in 2025.
• Government initiatives focused on infrastructure and onshoring are creating new avenues for growth, particularly in energy-related projects and manufacturing.
• The focus on renewable energy is spurring innovation and investment, necessitating a new kind of leadership within the energy sector.
• The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing multiple industries, requiring executives to adapt and integrate AI into their strategic approaches and changing the requirements for executive management radically.
• The 2024 US Presidential election as well as realignment in European political blocks, will probably polarize corporate initiatives like DEI, deeply affect immigration policies, and impose or increase tariffs, all of which will add further complexity to executive decision-making.

Specific industries covered in this annual report are experiencing structural change. In Energy, despite a global agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, petroleum still represents a large portion of energy consumption and, while investments in clean energy are growing, the sector will likely be impacted by political agendas. Furthermore, Big Tech saw some companies like Apple experiencing a drop in sales while others like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta continue to see considerable stock growth, driven in large part by AI. 

E-commerce continues to take share from the bricks and mortar segment, with intuitive AI programs expected to accelerate the trend. There’s growing support for female executives, though progress may be hindered by political controversy regarding DEI initiatives. Additionally, Human Resources is seeing increased demand for AI-powered recruiting and DEI implementation. The Construction and Real Estate sectors are experiencing growth as mortgages become more affordable with residential real estate leading the way even as the commercial sector wrestles with the impact of virtual work. 

The Manufacturing industry is expanding in most regions (except Germany), with a focus on smart solutions. Financial Services face challenges from declining interest rates, with diversified firms being more resilient. Marketing and Advertising, significantly influenced by AI, need to navigate a shift towards more ethical applications and a return to authentic messaging. The Leisure & Travel sectors are experiencing strong growth with a rise in tourism and a focus on sustainability, although staffing shortages are of concern.

Overall, these trends indicate a dynamic and rapidly evolving business environment, and executives must be adaptable and strategic to navigate these changes effectively and discover new avenues for growth. The political landscape, particularly a second Trump Presidency but also a move to the right in Europe not to mention significant realignment in the Middle East, will undoubtedly further influence these shifts. We hope you agree that the annual report offers detailed analysis and invaluable insights into the impacts of these and other trends with a particular focus on the women and men who make it all work–the world’s executives.

Link to the full report.

Sincerely,

Marion Engelke	Peter Irish
Chief Executive Officer	Chairman