Brazilian CEOs average tenure falls to 2.5 years, study shows

A new EXEC research survey of 130 CEO, president‑director and general‑director mandates in Brazil finds that executives stay in their top‑post for an average of only 2.5 years. Of the 130 tenures examined, 44 % end within the first two years, with 32 % lasting just 1–2 years and 15 % lasting 2–3 years. The study attributes the high turnover to tighter board expectations, rapid changes in the business environment, misaligned expectations among shareholders, and a lower tolerance for long learning curves. André Freire, partner‑director at EXEC, says the first twelve months are usually spent on diagnosis and adjustments, making the initial two‑year window critical for success and highlighting the importance of clear succession processes and structured onboarding.