Leadership at a Crossroads: 2025 Consumer and Retail Survey Insights

Our report identifies five core findings:

1. Strategic priorities are shifting
   Operational efficiency and revenue growth top the agenda, but so too do digital transformation and customer experience.
2. Leadership roles are expanding
   C-suite executives are wearing multiple hats, with blurred boundaries between functions such as marketing, digital, operations and strategy.
3. New capabilities are in demand
   Adaptability, digital fluency and strategic vision now outweigh traditional technical strengths.
4. Succession gaps are widening
   Only 15% of organisations feel “very prepared” to fill key roles internally, raising urgent questions around pipeline readiness and leadership development.
5. Collaboration is critical
   In an era where no executive leads alone, the ability to partner across functions has become a hallmark of effective leadership.

The message is clear: the most resilient organisations will be those that balance operational discipline with bold investment in innovation and talent. In today’s dynamic consumer markets, leadership quality is the ultimate differentiator.

Our report captures the key leadership challenges and priorities shaping the sector’s future.

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Get in touch. For further insights or more about our Consumer and Retail Practice, contact Alistair Clark, at alistair.clark@odgers.com.