Companies worldwide in the first half of 2021 appointed a record number of CEOs, making up for a significant slowdown in the second half of 2020, according to a report from executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles.

The global report, Route to the Top, found that the first half of 2021 showed a record number of CEO appointments, the highest since 2018.

The share of women CEOs appointed in the same period doubled as 13% of all CEOs appointed in the first half of 2021 were women, compared to 6% in the previous six months, though absolute numbers are still very low.

Despite the increase in women appointed to the corner office, women make up 6% of CEOs globally today.

The global report also found that compared to their predecessors, new CEOs are more likely to be women (11%), to be from countries other than where the company is headquartered (30%) and to have cross-border experience (46%).

"The appointments in early 2021 provide a first-look at the CEOs that will lead in a post-pandemic era," said Jeff Sanders, Vice Capore (11%); Canada, Italy and Mexico tied for the lowest share (0%).

Companies in Hong Kong have the greatest preference for non-national CEOs (76%), while China has the lowest (2%). Switzerland CEOs have the greatest share of cross-border experience (74%) while China has the lowest (10%)

Sweden has the highest percentage of CEOs with cross-sector experience (45%), while CEOs in the United Arab Emirates have the lowest share (12%)

"As the global corporate environment continues to evolve to a greater stakeholder view, a change is also happening for the CEO," said Bonnie Gwin, Vice Chairman and Co-Managing Partner of the global CEO & Board of Directors Practice, Heidrick & Struggles. "CEOs are quickly becoming the standard-bearer for a wide range of issues from cybersecurity, sustainability, social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion, to inspiring employees and navigating rapid digital and societal transformation. These changes are requiring a new CEO profile that brings a wide and differing range of experiences in life and business to the role."