PwC recently ran its 18
th annual
Global CEO Survey report, which highlights key priority areas for CEOs for the rest of the year.
The report found that 38% of CEOs are seeing an improvement in global economic growth, with 43% feeling confident about their own organisation’s ability to grow.
Over half of the participants said that they were planning to increase headcount.
In Australia, 40% are planning to complete a domestic merger or acquisition, and internationally, almost seven in ten CEOs see China as the top destination for offshore growth.
Talent diversity and inclusiveness was also flagged up as a continuing priority, as an overwhelming 92% of CEOs regarded it as making improvements to business performance. This priority is also set to influence growth as cultural diversity and experience will become paramount to capturing opportunities overseas.
Researchers also found that 2015 will see a rise in new alliances as 40% of CEOs are preparing to enter into a new joint venture or strategic alliance. In addition to this, over half of the survey’s respondents stated that they would be collaborating with new partners to build and strengthen innovation capabilities.
In Australia, 69% of CEOs said that the government’s attempts to achieve an internationally competitive tax system were ineffective.
Technology, naturally, was also a priority.
Eighty-three per cent said that they saw digital technologies as a platform which will create value both internally and externally.
