Chief executives worldwide are operating under elevated stress levels, with the latest BCG CEO Insomnia Index revealing an average stress score of 66.7 out of 100—above the clinical threshold for high stress. The findings highlight growing concerns around burnout, decision-making quality and leadership stability.
The study shows that CEO stress transcends geography, with leaders across markets reporting similarly high pressure. A key trigger is the perception of unsustainable workloads, which can push executives towards burnout, affecting both personal well-being and organisational performance. Chronic stress, BCG notes, undermines critical cognitive functions such as attention, memory and problem-solving, ultimately weakening decision quality.
Relentless performance expectations remain the primary driver of pressure, with growth targets and cost management cited as top stressors. Around 60% of CEOs expect operating conditions to remain challenging in the near term. While artificial intelligence is viewed as an opportunity rather than a major stressor, rising expectations to deliver measurable returns are adding pressure.
Board scrutiny is also intensifying, with one in three CEOs reporting heightened expectations from directors. Internal dynamics contribute further, particularly in large organisations where senior leadership teams—and notably CFOs—are perceived as key sources of pressure.
With 57% of CEOs focused heavily on short-term challenges, longer-term risks such as shareholder activism and employee dissatisfaction may be underestimated, potentially increasing CEO turnover risk.
