ABSTRACT
Despite the above operating hurdles, the expectations of results from shareholders are ever increasing. Shareholder activism over the last couple of decades is significantly impacting the pressures of running a business. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are also fueling higher stress on business leaders to provide higher returns, since the valuation of the deals needs to be justified with limited resources. The justification of acquisitions usually refers to significant synergy benefits on an expedited timeline. Business leaders who are required to lead in roles such as chief executive officer (CEO), chief operating officer (COO), president, vice president, general manager, and director are more challenged than ever. The average tenure of CEOs has been decreasing due to these demanding expectations. Also, the time required to fill these key leadership roles is longer than ever.
