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Korn Ferry lists C-level positions in demand

December 04, 2014

Korn Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) listed the most in-demand C-level positions for the year ahead, which include chief commercial (revenue) officers and chief innovation officers, among others. And according to a company survey, healthcare will be the sector with the most robust executive hiring in 2015.

Korn Ferry found the top-five highest-demand executive positions for 2015, in no particular order, include:

  • Chief commercial (revenue) officer
  • Chief innovation officer
  • Chief digital officer
  • Chief cyber security officer
  • Chief sustainability officer

Listed positions are at the C-level and based upon Korn Ferry’s incoming executive search requests worldwide, as well as a composite of qualitative forecasts and analysis by its senior search consultants.

“These positions are in high demand because they represent four underlying global business trends: the need to increase revenue growth; heightened awareness and greater vigilance surrounding issues of privacy and security; the need to create deep engagement with customers; and finally, major changes in the healthcare industry,” said Bob Damon, executive chairman, Americas, of Korn Ferry.

The firm also issued results from its latest executive poll, which found 29 percent believe that healthcare will be the sector with the most robust executive hiring in 2015.

Executives were asked, “What sector do you think will be the hottest for executive positions in 2015?”

Responses include:

  • Healthcare: 29 percent
  • New media/social media: 20 percent
  • Cyber security/risk management: 18 percent
  • Energy: 19 percent
  • Sales, marketing, development: 14 percent

“While healthcare is expected to be the hottest sector for executive hiring overall, we expect demand for these top 15 C-level positions to continue to grow, largely because they are being filled in a broad cross-section of industries,” Damon said. “For example, you will find demand for a chief innovation officer not just in the technology sector, but in areas like manufacturing, healthcare, retail, consumer goods, finance, and pretty much every industry worldwide.”

Korn Ferry surveyed 367 executives from Nov. 10 to Nov.18.