Churn among chief communication officers stabilizes even as CEO exits hit records
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Even with a record number of CEO exits, turnover among chief communications officers has stabilized, according to a new report from Patino Associates and CASA.
Why it matters: CCOs are being seen as the steady hand who can help with continuity amid economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension and AI transformation.
By the numbers: The average tenure of a CCO in the U.S. in 2025 was 4.9 years, resulting in a turnover rate that was essentially flat (10.2%).
- Chief financial officers saw a turnover rate of 18% — compared to 11% in 2024 — and CEOs changed at a rate of 12.2%.
Zoom in: In the cases in which CCOs exit, their successors are more likely to be hired from within, according to the study.
- 60% of companies filled CCO positions with internal candidates, almost double that of last year.
- "The internal hires provide an understanding of the business," says Michael Patino, CEO of Patino Associates. "The good ones already operate well across the organization and therefore have strong relationships and advocates."
- "CEOs and management teams are less comfortable with a learning curve. They want to know that someone really does understand their business on day one ... in order to be able to help that business go where they want to go in the next 12 months."
Yes, but: Not all internal hires are promotions.
- 28% of internal hires were stepping into roles smaller than those held by their predecessors.
- For example, a chief corporate affairs officer could be replaced by an internal candidate in a comms chief role.
What they're saying: Last year, CCOs were more likely to be set up for success in a way they weren't previously, says Patino.
- "We're seeing a greater respect for the function and a greater understanding of the impact of the function," he says. "Because hiring managers and CEOs are approaching recruiting with a more well-thought-out perspective, we're actually seeing fewer oopsies."
- "We're also seeing more of a customization of the function. It's really about what are the needs of my business, of my leadership team. They're not looking for just a functional leader — they're looking for a business leader."
What to watch: The remit of a communications lead tends to depend on the business' needs, based on macro factors.
- In some cases, this has led to the creation of the CCO+ title, with 31% of comms leaders holding roles that oversee at least one other function.
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