'India is not only a major talent market but also a hub for leadership roles with global responsibility': Odgers CEO Scrope

There is now significant pressure on corporate leadership thanks to the rapid pace of global change, and CEOs must be capable of navigating future disruption, said Kester Scrope, CEO of executive search firm Odgers. During a recent visit to the country, Scrope told ET that India is a strategically important market for the search firm, having emerged not only as a major talent market but also as a hub for leadership roles with global responsibility. Edited excerpts:

Q. How important is India to Odgers’ global business, and what trends are emerging in leadership hiring in the country?

KS : India has become a strategically important market within Odgers’ global network, with offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru supporting both domestic and international leadership searches. The Indian business is now deeply integrated into our global operations, reflecting the country’s growing importance in international commerce. One major shift we're seeing is the increasing globalisation of leadership hiring.

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Currently, about 50% of executive searches in India are global in nature, meaning companies are looking beyond domestic talent pools to identify leaders with international experience. This trend works both ways: Indian businesses expanding overseas are hiring executives with multinational experience, while global companies investing in India are more open than before to appointing local Indian leaders.

Recent trade agreements, including those between India and the UK, are further accelerating cross-border investment and leadership mobility. As Indian companies expand globally and governance standards improve within privately-owned businesses, the demand for internationally experienced leaders is rising. This is positioning India not only as a major talent market but also as a hub for leadership roles with global responsibility.

Q: How are geopolitics, technology shifts and market volatility changing the executive search business globally?

KS: The pace of global change--from geopolitics and trade tensions to rapid advances in AI--has significantly increased pressure on corporate leadership, which in turn is driving demand for executive search services. One clear trend is a sharp rise in CEO turnover worldwide.

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Data from major global stock indices shows that chief executive turnover is now about 20% higher than the previous eight-year trend, reflecting the intense expectations placed on leaders. This shift has also changed how companies approach succession planning. Instead of reacting when a leadership transition becomes necessary, organisations are increasingly preparing successors in advance and considering multiple leadership options to ensure stability in an unpredictable environment.

Q: Is India seeing greater demand for global and expatriate leadership talent?

KS: Yes, there is growing demand for leadership talent with international exposure, although the trend is not limited to traditional expatriate hiring. Around 20% of our leadership searches in India last year were for C-suite roles with global responsibilities, meaning executives based in India were overseeing operations across multiple international markets. These positions naturally require leaders with cross-border experience and an understanding of global markets.

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A large share of this talent comes from the Indian diaspora, which represents a substantial pool of internationally trained professionals. For example, there are currently hundreds of thousands of Indian students studying in English-speaking countries such as the US, UK and Australia, many of whom eventually develop global managerial experience.

Technology roles are particularly international in nature due to the intense competition for AI talent worldwide. With India hosting one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems and rapidly expanding digital capabilities, companies are increasingly looking globally to secure leaders with specialised technical expertise and global market experience.

Q: How is the role of the CEO evolving in today’s business environment?

KS: While the fundamentals of leadership remain largely unchanged, the context in which CEOs operate has become far more complex. Modern chief executives must now simultaneously navigate three major pressures: technological disruption such as AI, geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains and trade, and rising expectations around societal impact and sustainability.

Because of this multi-front challenge, the traditional model of a 'hero CEO' who personally drives all decisions is becoming obsolete. Instead, successful leaders increasingly rely on strong executive teams capable of handling specialised areas of responsibility.

Organisations themselves are also evolving, with rigid hierarchical structures gradually being replaced by more flexible and adaptive models that allow companies to respond faster to change.

Another shift is the pace at which CEOs must deliver results. In the past, executives were often expected to reach peak effectiveness several years into the role. Today, boards expect leaders to demonstrate impact far more quickly.