Chief human resources officer turnover jumped sharply in the first three quarters of 2025, driven by a wave of new CEO appointments reshaping their executive teams, according to new data from Russell Reynolds Associates.
The consulting firm’s Global CHRO Turnover Index shows 127 CHROs were appointed globally across public companies in the first nine months of 2025, nearly matching the seven-year average of 131 appointments after a dip to 94 in the same period in 2024.
The increase was most pronounced in the S&P 500, where 59 CHROs were appointed — the highest total for the first three quarters of any year since 2020. About 10 per cent of S&P 500 companies appointed a new CEO during this period, with many bringing in new HR leaders to support workforce transformation efforts, according to the index.
Technology sector leads turnover
Technology companies saw the highest CHRO turnover rate, with 26 per cent of S&P 500 tech firms making new appointments in the first three quarters of 2025.
The consulting firm attributed the elevated turnover to rapid change and investor pressure on HR leadership in the sector.
Average tenure rises but varies widely
Average CHRO tenure edged up to 5.1 years in the first three quarters of 2025, compared to 4.9 years in the same period in 2024 and above the seven-year average of 4.5 years.
However, the increase was driven primarily by longer tenures among departing S&P 500 CHROs, who averaged 6.1 years in their roles. Six of the indices tracked showed declining average tenure, with the sharpest drops in France’s CAC 40, the Euronext 100, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100.
First-time CHROs on the rise
First-time CHRO appointments increased to 61 per cent of all appointments in the first three quarters of 2025, up from 53 per cent in the same period in 2024 and in line with the seven-year average.
Of these first-time appointees, 77 per cent were internal promotions. Many stepped into the role from outside traditional HR functions, including risk, finance, operations, sustainability, communications, legal and compliance.
The index covers CHRO turnover and appointments across 13 global stock market indices, including the S&P 500, FTSE 100, TSX Composite and others. The data was compiled through research and mapping of individuals holding top-level HR positions in public companies from the first quarter of 2018 through the fourth quarter of 2024, with preliminary data for 2025.
