Key Findings: PwC’s 17th Annual Global CEO Survey

About PwC’s Annual Global CEO Survey
PwC’s Annual Global CEO Survey, now in its seventeenth year, aims to inform and stimulate the debate on how businesses are facing today’s challenges. Over the years, thousands of CEOs around the world have taken the time to share their views with us.

For the 17th Annual Global CEO Survey, we conducted 1,344 interviews with CEOs in 68 countries between 9 September and 6 December 2013. We selected our sample based on the percentage of the total GDP of countries included in the survey, to ensure CEOs’ views are fairly represented across all major countries and regions of the world. By region, 445 interviews were conducted in Asia Pacific, 442 in Europe, 212 in North America, 165 in Latin America, 45 in Africa and 35 in the Middle East. The interviews were also spread across a range of industries.

To better understand CEOs’ perspectives for 2014, we also conducted in-depth interviews with 34 CEOs from six continents over the fourth quarter of 2013.

The survey was launched on 21 January 2014 at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Watch Dennis Nally, Chairman of PwC International Ltd., reveal key findings from the survey in a replay of the live webcast from Davos and view the online discussion from the event.

Key findings: Themes from the CEO Survey (external links, opens new browser)

Transportation & Logistics
Transportation & logistics CEOs have some big worries, like transport infrastructure readiness, but they’re more optimistic in this year’s CEO Survey. They’re focusing on developing a strong workforce, where they need it, but talent strategies will need to keep up. And they’re improving their environmental footprint too.

Transportation & logistics CEOs are worried about a wide range of business threats, with energy costs at the top of the list

Transportation & logistics CEOs are still cautious
Over the past several years, transportation & logistics CEOs have consistently been less optimistic about future revenue growth than their peers across the overall sample. That’s true this year too. But they see the economy coming back on track. Confidence is still notably up compared to last year. And sector CEOs’ dim view of the global economy has gotten better, with 45% believing it will improve.

They’re looking where growth will be
T&L CEOs are much more worried about sluggish growth in the advanced economies than about a slowdown in emerging markets – that differs from the overall sample, where they worry about both nearly equally. But sector executives are already looking at making the most of growth markets. More transportation and logistics CEOs are targeting new growth markets in CEE, Latin America and Africa for next year’s M&A activities, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Concerns around energy costs and infrastructure stand out
It’s not surprising that T&L CEOs continue to worry about high or volatile energy costs. Last year, 61% of T&L CEOs were somewhat or extremely concerned about energy costs. This year that figure has jumped to 76%. As in previous years, transport infrastructure is a key area of concern. 56% of T&L CEOs worry that basic infrastructure isn’t adequate.

Workforce issues are looming large
T&L CEOs overwhelmingly agree they’ll need to change their talent strategies to cope with future trends like demographic changes and urbanisation. But just 19% are already doing so, compared to a third of CEOs across the overall sample, and only 30% believe their HR departments are well-prepared.

And so are environmental concerns
Nearly all T&L CEOs (88%) agree or agree strongly that it’s important for their company to try and reduce their environmental footprint.

Download the Paper: PwC’s 17th Annual Global CEO Survey - Transportation

Source: PwC’s 17th Annual Global CEO Survey: Fit for the future

Download the Paper: PwC’s 17th Annual Global CEO Survey