Historic turning point: record number of ceo layoffs in 2024
The number of ceo layoffs worldwide reached a record high in 2024. There are several reasons for this.
Published on February 4, 2025

A record number of ceo's were laid off worldwide in 2024, a notable increase from previous years. There was a wave of layoffs especially in the technology sector. That's according to new figures from ceo recruiter Russell Reynolds Associates.
The year 2024 marked a historic turning point in business, with 202 departing ceos from publicly traded companies. This 9% increase over 2023 was significantly higher than the six-year average.
A major reason for this change is the growing pressure from shareholders actively engaging with companies. In 2024, this led to 27 forced departures of ceos, nearly three times as many as in 2020. The average time ceo's stay in office fell to 7.4 years. In the Netherlands, ceos are also experiencing pressure from activist shareholders. Jan Timmer, former top executive of Philips, already warned about the growing influence of shareholders in 2018.
Technology sector hit hardest
The technology sector was hit especially hard with 40 ceo departures: a dramatic 90% increase from the previous year. This sector also showed unique characteristics in appointing new leaders. Only 8% of new tech ceos had previous ceo experience. Meanwhile, the average tenure of tech CEOs has fallen to less than three years. These figures reflect the turbulent nature of the tech industry, where companies must constantly innovate and adapt to new developments, especially in AI, the report found.
The fall of a pioneer: Ebusco
A striking Dutch example is the story of a ceo layoff is Peter Bijvelds at electric bus maker Ebusco. As founder, he built the company from a startup in 2012 to a publicly traded company with a valuation of €1.4 billion in 2021. Under his leadership, Ebusco developed into the “Dutch Tesla for city and regional buses. Despite these impressive achievements, Bijvelds had to step down in September 2024. The cause was a combination of factors: rising raw material prices, supply problems and a net loss of 120 million euros in 2023. This illustrates how even successful founders are not immune to the increasing pressure to perform consistently in a rapidly changing market.

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