Finding opportunity in uncertainty
The 2022 CEO Outlook draws on the perspectives of 1,325 global CEOs across 11 markets to provide insight into their 3-year outlook on the business and economic landscapes. The survey also reveals shifts in strategy and viewpoints from the KPMG CEO Outlook Pulse Survey, conducted ahead of the Russian government's invasion of Ukraine.
Greek insights from 50 Greek CEOs from an array of sectors and organizations:
- 82% express confidence in their country's growth prospects over the next three years.
- 62% express increased confidence in the growth prospects of the global economy in the next three years.
- Only 24% believe a recession over the next 12 months will happen, but 22% feel it will be mild and short and 36% percent have plans in place to deal with it.
- Geopolitical uncertainties will likely continue to impact strategies, with 72% of Greek CEOs adjusting or planning to adjust their risk management procedures.
- 48% says they need to be quicker to shift investment to digital opportunities and divest in those areas where they face digital obsolescence.
- 76% of Greek CEOs plan to invest up to 10% of their revenue to make their businesses more sustainable.
- 70% are optimistic for the prospect of developing their own business in three years.
- The cyber environment is evolving quickly — and 78% see information security as a strategic function and a potential source of competitive advantage.
- 29% have implemented a hiring freeze, and 32% are considering downsizing their employee base over the next 6 months.
- Remote working has had a positive impact on hiring, collaboration, and productivity over the past 2 years, but 68% of Greek CEOs see in-office as the go-to office environment over the next 3 years.
- Greek CEOs increasingly agree that ESG programs improve financial performance, sitting at 56%.
- Greek businesses are seeing major focus put on the social aspect of ESG: 28% of CEOs believe progress on inclusion, diversity, and equity (IDE) has moved too slowly in the business world, and 82% believe scrutiny of IDE performance will continue to increase over the next 3 years.
Tested by enormous challenges in quick succession — a global pandemic, inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions — it’s encouraging that CEOs, surveyed in our 2022 CEO Outlook, were confident in their companies’ resilience and relatively optimistic in their own growth prospects.
While it’s unsurprising the economic climate is now a top concern for business leaders, over these past few years, they’ve learned to navigate the unpredictable, realigning their workforces, untangling supply chain disruptions, and adapting to geopolitical and economic impacts. As the possibility of recession looms, many are already prepared with a deep focus on planning and agility. And some see opportunities through this fog of uncertainty brought on by the promise of technology, talent and ESG.
Bill Thomas
Global Chairman and CEO
KPMG
Global Chairman and CEO
KPMG
CEO profiles
Unless otherwise indicated, throughout this report, “we”, “KPMG”, “us” and “our” refer to the network of independent member firms operating under the KPMG name and affiliated with KPMG International or to one or more of these firms or to KPMG International.
