Venator Search Partners has recently published a report on how India has witnessed a 9.5 per cent rise in CXO-level appointments in fiscal year 2025.
This data reflects a pronounced shift among organisations toward enterprise value, risk agility and enhanced governance standards.
Retained executive search firm Venator Search Partners, which specialises in headhunting for banks and financial institutions, noted that the country’s leadership hiring landscape is moving away from legacy-driven roles to performance-led mandates.
According to Venator, more than 50 per cent of the senior placements it facilitated in FY25 were board-level director positions. Business head hires also climbed by over 30 per cent compared with the previous fiscal year. The search firm attributed this trend to mounting post-pandemic pressures, which have prompted boards and promoters to evaluate leaders on the basis of accountability and alignment rather than tenure.
“In the current environment, occupying a role is no longer sufficient; delivering measurable performance is paramount. Companies are acting decisively to replace underperforming leaders with executives who bring sharper execution ability, data-led thinking and a demonstrable track record,” said Deepraditya Datta, Founder, Venator Search Partners.
The criteria for top positions have evolved accordingly. Organisations are now prioritising candidates with strong governance and compliance experience, adeptness in board interactions, risk sensitivity and financial clarity. Boards are taking a more proactive stance—demanding regular updates, supporting scenario-based planning and recommending leadership changes when risks are mismanaged.
Governance has likewise transformed from a mere compliance checkbox into a strategic lever. With boardroom scrutiny intensifying and regulatory demands on the rise, the need for robust leadership in risk management, audit, compliance and finance has surged. In FY25, the Reserve Bank of India imposed penalties totalling Rs 54.78 crore on 353 regulated entities for compliance lapses, underscoring that effective governance leadership is no longer optional.
Inclusivity is also gaining prominence in the leadership blueprint. Venator’s data shows that the share of women in CXO roles rose to 20.6 per cent in FY25, while female representation among functional heads increased to 28 per cent. Meanwhile, digital risk and enterprise continuity roles have become mission-critical as companies confront heightened cybersecurity and IT infrastructure challenges.
“There is a transition away from an impulsive hire-and-fire approach, replaced by structured performance reviews, impact-led frameworks and strategic realignment cycles. Companies are demonstrating readiness to rethink leadership when business outcomes fall short, prioritising dynamic assessment models that evaluate leaders by outcomes rather than seniority,” Datta added.
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