H.I.E.C Partner Carmen Koch highlights the changes in executive management within the consumer goods industry in her comprehensive analysis for 2023. This analysis refers to corporations, medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups. The areas of responsibility for these executives extend either to the German market, the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), or Central Europe.
The year 2023, like the two preceding years, was characterized by geopolitical changes. Companies were called upon to realign their business models and management teams to navigate their organization through the crisis. In this context, we have identified 40 new executives who have predominantly moved into new positions within the middle market.
Read our full report (in German) on the 2023 CEO Moves in the FMCG industry in the DACH region here:
Highlights
- New Appointments: As part of our analysis for 2023, we were able to identify a total of 40 new executives as well as 140 changes at the entire top management level (C-Level).
- Female CEOs: 18% of the new leaders are women, signaling an increasing gender diversity in top positions.
- Internal Appointments in Corporate Entities: In corporate entities, leadership positions were increasingly filled internally, highlighting the growing importance of internal talent development.
- International Experience: Many new executives have experience in smaller foreign markets, demonstrating an appreciation for international expertise.
- Diversity & Inclusion: 27% of the new appointments are aimed at strengthening diversity and inclusion at the leadership level. This indicates a conscious effort to promote diversity in corporate leadership.
In summary, resilience remains a core competency, as in previous years, that an executive should bring to the successful management of a company, especially in uncertain times. A positive attitude helps as much as experience in managing uncertainties. Some companies have managed to exceed their growth targets, while others had to file for bankruptcy. It is assumed that the first half of 2024 will remain challenging and that markets will recover in the second half of the year.
Interviewer: Carmen Koch, Partner, H.I.E.C
Please feel free to contact Carmen Koch directly via email ckoch@hiec.com should you have any questions or would like to discuss the above or anything else further.