Chief Communications Officer Turnover Study 2026

This document is the Chief Communications Officer Turnover Study for 2026, focusing on turnover rates among Communications and Corporate Affairs leadership in the USA and Europe. The report outlines the findings from 2025, a year marked by challenges in the working environment for Communications functions, including rapid technological changes and rising stakeholder activism. It reflects the stability and fluctuations in turnover rates across various national markets, particularly noting that the USA displayed remarkable stability with a turnover rate of 10%. In contrast, European turnover rates decreased overall, with significant reductions except in the German DAX 40. The research presented was expanded to include data from a wider range of companies across six national markets, reflecting trends in corporate recruitment and hiring practices. The report highlights the balance between internal and external hires, revealing notable shifts in candidate selection while also documenting changes in gender representation among CCO role holders across different regions.