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CEOs In The News is a weekly intelligence briefing for senior leaders, boards, and those shaping the future of business. Each edition curates the most important executive moves, corporate shifts, and leadership trends — with clear insights on why they matter.

Our mission is simple: deliver clarity, signal, and strategic perspective in minutes — so you start the week one step ahead of the boardroom narrative.

The corporate landscape witnessed a flurry of significant leadership changes this past week, signaling strategic shifts across major industries. At Constellation Brands (No. 186), Nicholas Fink, the current CEO of Fortune Brands Innovations, will take the helm as CEO on April 13, succeeding Bill Newlands. The food and drug sector saw a major appointment at Kroger (No. 27), with Greg Foran, who previously led Walmart’s U.S. business and Air New Zealand, stepping in as the new CEO. This move follows the abrupt resignation of former CEO Rodney McMullen in March 2025 due to personal conduct issues. In the automotive sector, Dana (No. 410) announced that Byron Foster, currently President of its Light Vehicle Systems, will become CEO on July 1, succeeding R. Bruce McDonald. The retail industry also saw a key change at CarMax (No. 151), with Keith Barr, former CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group, appointed as the new chief executive, effective March 16.

The technology sector was particularly active. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (No. 167) has brought in Ariel Kelman, formerly of Salesforce, as its new SVP and CMO. In a significant move at Workday (No. 455), co-founder Aneel Bhusri is returning as CEO, succeeding Carl Eschenbach, as the company aims to reverse a significant loss in market value. Meanwhile, Kyndryl Holdings (No. 265) appointed Harsh Chugh as interim CFO following the sudden departure of David Wyshner. In the wholesale sector, WESCO International (No. 199) named Indraneel “Neel” Dev as its new CFO. The entertainment giant Disney also made headlines with the appointment of Josh D’Amaro, head of Disney Experiences, as its new CEO, effective March 18, 2026, replacing Bob Iger.

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The recent wave of CEO transitions reflects a broader trend of strategic realignment in the face of a rapidly evolving market. The data from the Conference Board’s 2025 CEO Succession Report reveals a significant uptick in CEO turnover, with the rate in the S&P 500 jumping to 13% in 2025 from 10% in 2024. This trend is not confined to a single market segment, as CEO transitions have increased across large, mid, and small-cap companies. The rise in turnover, even among high-performing companies, suggests that boards are increasingly proactive in their succession planning, a sentiment echoed by Ariane Marchis-Mouren of the Conference Board, who notes that many changes reflect “strategic realignment and long-term succession planning rather than immediate performance triggers”.

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Examining historical CEO transitions provides valuable context for understanding the current landscape. The return of a founder, as seen with Aneel Bhusri at Workday, is a recurring theme in corporate history, often signaling a desire to restore a company’s original vision and culture. A classic example is Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1997, which heralded a period of unprecedented innovation and growth for the company. Similarly, the appointment of external candidates with diverse industry experience, such as Greg Foran at Kroger, reflects a strategic choice to inject fresh perspectives into an organization. Lou Gerstner’s move from RJR Nabisco to IBM in 1993 is a landmark case of an outsider transforming a struggling giant. These historical precedents underscore the strategic calculus behind the CEO appointments we are witnessing today

The increasing rate of CEO turnover, particularly the rise in external appointments, offers profound insights into the evolving demands of corporate leadership. The Conference Board’s report highlights that external hires in the S&P 500 nearly doubled to 33% in 2025, the highest level in eight years. This trend suggests that boards are prioritizing leaders with the agility and foresight to navigate disruption and drive transformation. As Blair Jones of Semler Brossy notes, the current environment is one of “recalibration—experienced CEOs exiting after extended tenures, and boards seeking new skill sets to navigate a transformed business landscape”. The shrinking tenure of CEOs, with the average for departing S&P 500 chiefs now at 9 years, further emphasizes the pressure on leaders to deliver results in a compressed timeframe.

The past year has been rife with high-profile CEO failures, often stemming from ethical lapses and poor judgment. The abrupt departure of Kroger’s Rodney McMullen, the termination of Kohl’s CEO Ashley Buchanan for an undisclosed romantic relationship that led to a conflict of interest, and the ousting of Nestlé’s Laurent Freixe for a similar transgression all serve as cautionary tales. These incidents, along with the family feud at Market Basket and the public spat between Lululemon’s founder and its departing CEO, have had a tangible impact on the companies’ stock prices and reputations. The market’s reaction to these scandals underscores the critical importance of ethical leadership and robust corporate governance.

The current churn in the C-suite is creating a dynamic job market for top executives. The demand for leaders with a proven track record in digital transformation, data analytics, and ESG is particularly high. The rise of “Experience Intelligence,” as highlighted by Disney’s appointment of Josh D’Amaro, signals a new frontier in leadership capabilities. The data from Spencer Stuart’s 2025 report, which shows that nearly 60% of CEOs expect to leave their roles within three years, further indicates a highly fluid and competitive landscape for executive talent.

Several developing situations merit close observation in the coming months. The leadership transition at Disney will be closely watched as Josh D’Amaro takes the reins from the legendary Bob Iger and navigates the company through a period of intense competition and technological disruption. The ongoing trial at Market Basket, with its echoes of a family dynasty drama, could have significant implications for the company’s future and the broader grocery industry. At Workday, all eyes will be on Aneel Bhusri as he attempts to steer the company back to growth after a significant decline in market value. The fallout from the various ethics-related CEO departures of 2025 will also continue to unfold, with potential for further revelations and regulatory scrutiny.

The current state of CEO transitions is one of unprecedented dynamism and complexity. The confluence of strategic realignments, ethical reckonings, and a more demanding and activist stakeholder environment is reshaping the very nature of corporate leadership. As we move further into 2026, the trends of rising turnover, shorter tenures, and a greater emphasis on external, transformational leaders are likely to accelerate. For boards, the challenge is to navigate this turbulent landscape with foresight and agility, ensuring that they have the right leadership in place to not only weather the storms but also to seize the opportunities of a rapidly changing world. The stakes have never been higher, and the margin for error has never been smaller.

CEOs In The News is published weekly for an audience earning $300K to $10MM. It’s intended for educational use to empower executives for the ongoing week. For executive search inquiries, executive branding needs, board advisory services, or newsletter feedback, contact our editorial team. The opinions in this newsletter are not that of its sponsors.

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