CEO & MD Turnover Rises Across India Inc. In 2025

India Inc. experienced a rise in leadership exits in 2025, according to data compiled by primeinfobase.com for ET. Among 2,800 NSE-listed companies, 149 Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO & MD) departures were recorded, representing a 5.32% churn rate.

This compares with 129 exits across 2,529 companies in 2024 and 132 exits across 2,223 companies in 2023. The largest firms saw the highest turnover. Nifty-100 companies recorded 22 CEO/MD departures in 2025, up from nine in 2024, while Nifty-200 companies had 31 exits, representing a 15.5% churn versus 10.5% in the previous year. In Nifty-50 firms, eight exits were reported, mostly due to retirements or term expiries, translating to 16% churn.

Consultants and board members said the turnover is linked to performance expectations, regulatory scrutiny, strategic changes, and growing demand for leadership talent in a dynamic business environment. Companies are increasingly planning successions and transitions to maintain continuity at the top.