APAC Leaders Confident on Managing AI, Cybersecurity Risks, But Not So Much on Succession Planning—Report
Governance Structures Across the Region Are Still Evolving as Organisations Confront Emerging Risks
New findings from Heidrick & Struggles’ 2026 CEO & Board Confidence Monitor, based on responses from 254 leaders in Asia Pacific (APAC), show that the region reports strong confidence in their ability to navigate issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity risk, even as governance structures and succession planning processes continue to evolve.
Technology-related issues are central to the leadership agenda across APAC. According to the survey, 44% of respondents identified artificial intelligence as one of the most significant issues their organisations expect to face in 2026, while 39% cited cybersecurity risk, higher than the 31% global average. Economic uncertainty and volatility were also identified as a major issue by 44% of respondents, lower than the global average at 57%.
“The breadth of what is landing on leadership agendas across APAC right now is significant. The real test for leaders is carrying the weight of today’s volatility while simultaneously transforming for what comes next,” said Jiat-Hui Wu, Partner-in-Charge at Heidrick & Struggles Singapore. “Technology is reshaping organisations faster than governance structures can keep pace with. The leaders who will define this region’s next chapter are those who can steer through current pressures without losing sight of where they need to take their organisations tomorrow.”
APAC Leaders Show Confidence in Managing Risks
Despite these concerns, leaders across APAC report relatively strong confidence in their organisations’ ability to manage emerging risks. 50% of respondents say they are confident in their organisation’s ability to manage artificial intelligence—the highest level among the five regions surveyed, and above the 39% global average. Similarly, 55% report confidence in managing cybersecurity risk, compared with 51% globally.
However, the findings also highlight areas where governance practices continue to develop. While 75% of respondents in APAC express confidence in their executive leadership teams for 2026, fewer report confidence in governance mechanisms designed to position organisations well for the future. Only 55% say they are confident in their board evaluation and refreshment practices, compared with 47% globally, while 54% express confidence in their CEO succession planning processes, compared with 41% globally.
“Confidence in today’s leadership is just part of the picture. Even as organisations grow more confident in managing technological risk, a more uncertain geopolitical environment is testing leadership readiness,” said Guy Farrow, Regional Managing Partner of the CEO & Board of Directors Practice for Asia Pacific and the Middle East at Heidrick & Struggles. “With only half of CEOs and boards confident in their leadership refreshment and succession processes, organisations need to strengthen governance and ensure they are planning effectively for the next generation of leadership.”
View the complete survey findings here: https://www.heidrick.com/en/insights/board-of-directors/ceo-and-board-confidence-monitor-2026-data-dashboard.
