A poll of 769 CEOs from 40 countries, found that great execution was the No. 1 concern for the year. The Conference Board report, CEO Challenge 2007: Top 10 Challenges, included 121 different challenges CEOs faced.
The top concern last year, "sustained and steady top-line growth," dropped to the second-place spot. Finishing third overall this year was "consistent execution of strategy by top management;" fourth was "profit growth;" and fifth was finding qualified managerial candidates.
"This year's overall top challenge shows that CEOs from around the world are realizing that strong execution is a critical factor in driving profits and revenues," says Jonathan Spector, President and CEO of The Conference Board. "These executives are also becoming increasingly aware of the crucial role that people play in growing their companies."
For U.S. business leaders, employee healthcare costs were much more of a concern (16th) than it was for their Asian (69th) or European (71) counterparts.
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