Turnover in the top position accelerated in May, as employers at U.S.-based companies announced 114 chief executive officer changes, 18% higher than the 97 CEO changes announced in April, according to a report released Wednesday by global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
May’s total was 25.3% higher than the 91 CEO exits announced in the same month last year. In total, 627 chief executives have left their roles this year, up 16% from the 541 CEOs who announced their departures in the first five months of 2018. In fact, this is the highest five-month total since Challenger began tracking in 2002.