This has been a top management concern for European CEOs for the past two years, and it is now a rising concern in North America and Japan, as well. Technology, catalyzed by the Internet, is accelerating efforts to create business value. Savvy CEOs around the globe realize that survival may well depend on their ability to adjust quickly to sudden marketplace shifts, especially as the long economic expansion begins to wane. CEOs' views differ dramatically by region. The study shows differences among CEOs depending on where their companies are headquartered.
Industry consolidation is a persistent concern.
Mergers and acquisitions account for a rising proportion of CEOs' time and resources, the study found. Many mid-sized firms say they have fallen out of favor with investors and believe they must now acquire, or be acquired, in order to avoid being marginalized. About 50 percent of our customers have been bought out in the last four years. Our second-largest customer was bought out twice. Price pressures are still an issue.