A global study by the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), based on a survey of more than 500 representatives from leading executive search and leadership advisory firms, reveals that digital transformation tops the business agenda of organisations for 2019.
Organisations are increasingly realising that digital transformation is largely a talent issue.
- 65 per cent surveyed predict that technology, analytics and cybersecurity will be the most in demand executive roles this year.
- More than a third (35.4 per cent) forecast ‘digital leadership advisory’ to be a growing service to businesses in 2019.
It’s not just tech roles that are in demand, though. Actualising digital transformation across an enterprise requires the right culture to foster the transformation. As a result, organisations seek diverse leadership at Board and C-Suite level who can encourage organisational agility and foster a culture of innovation. Companies are increasingly looking to the next generation of talent for the leadership they need to flourish in an Industry 4.0 business environment.
- More than a quarter surveyed (27 per cent) predict ‘developing next gen leaders’ as the number two issue for organisations in 2019.
- Asian markets are forecast to have the strongest demand growth for executive talent in the year ahead with China leading (43.7 per cent), followed by India (41.4 per cent) and Southeast Asia (37.6 per cent).
The study identifies opportunities for business leaders to assess how their talent strategy aligns with their digital transformation goals.
