2. After our positive experience with last year’s survey amongst Czech
top managers, we once more organised the CEO Survey 2013 this year.
Because we were particularly interested in comparisons with last year,
we asked the managers the same, or slightly amended, questions. From
the respondents’ answers, we discovered that most of them assessed
2012 as successful, and their forecasts for 2013 are, in their opinion,
optimistic, as is the mood in their companies. In comparison with 2012,
this is a change for the better.
As part of the survey, we contacted a total of 900 CEOs of companies
from all spheres throughout the Czech Republic, of whom 180 took
part, corresponding to a 20 % participation rate. Of the total number of
respondents, 8 % were women and 92 % were men. On the basis of the
survey, we can say that the typical CEO in the Czech Republic is a Czech
citizen and a man between the ages of 40 and 49 who has worked in a
management position for more than five years.
Almost half of the CEOs
see the future
optimistically
„
„
CEO Survey 2013
Czech Republic
2013 180respondents
3. 03
Neutral
Pessimistic
Somewhat
optimistic
Very optimistic
<1 %
Optimistic
38 %
20 %
29 %
13 %
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
HOW DO YOU SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY IN THE
CZECH REPUBLIC OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH SEGMENTS WILL SEE POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT IN 2013 IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC?
According to respondents, the economic situation this year is likely to
improve. While 38 % of those questioned gave a neutral response to eco-
nomic development, 29 % consider the economic prospects this year to
be somewhat optimistic, and 13 % very optimistic. Only a fifth of re-
spondents predict negative development. The number of members of top
management assessing the future neutrally or optimistically has thus
grown by five percent in a year to a total of 80 %.
Top managers’ outlook on the future potential of separate segments is
interesting. As for last year, they expect greatest growth in the field of
information technology and telecommunications (up to 63 %, which is
5 % more than in 2012). The other segments offering the greatest growth
are finance (33 %), professional services (31 %), followed by the pharma-
ceutical industry (30 %) and the natural resources and energy (30 %). In
contrast, the least growth is expected in the fields of government, educa-
tion and non-profit organisations (only 4.5 %). In comparison to last year,
expectations of growth are also lower for industry (by 9 %) and consumer
goods (by 4 %).
1 2
14 %
33 %
5 %
28 %
31 %
30 %
30 %
11 %
63 %Technology
Life Sciences & Healthcare
Professional Services
Government, Education
& Non Profit Organisations
Consumer Products
& Services including media
Natural Resources and Energy
Industrial
Logistics & Transportation
Financial Services
4. 04
Neutral
Somewhat unsuccessful
Pessimistic
Very unsuccessful
Somewhat optimistic
Somewhat
successful
Very optimistic
3 %
Very successful
Optimistic
Successful
24 %
10 %
7%
2 %
35 %
29 %
31 %
43 %
16 %
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
TRY TO DESCRIBE THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE IN YOUR COMPANY HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERISE 2012 IN TERMS OF THE SUCCESS
OF YOUR COMPANY?
69 % of respondents assess the mood in their companies as optimistic
(of which 3 % say very optimistic) and only 7 % assess it pessimistically.
Compared to last year, when 13 % of managers assessed the mood as
pessimistic, this is a significant improvement.
The great news is that 88 % of CEOs assess 2012 as having been
successful, of which 16 % say it was very successful. Only 12 % don’t
consider last year as good for their company.
3 4
5. 05
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
WHICH FACTORS AFFECT YOUR SATISFACTION
AT WORK THE MOST?
WHAT DO COMPANIES EXPECT FROM THEIR MANAGEMENT AND CEO
TO BE COMPETITIVE IN BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS?
The most significant factor affecting the satisfaction of managers at work
is sufficient challenges allowing for personal growth with 62 % (last year
80 %). In second place is company culture with 60 % (last year 59 %),
which swapped positions with autonomy, for which 56 % voted this year
compared to 63 % last year. The least important factor, as in the last sur-
vey, was level of stress. Its importance, however, is growing. This year this
factor achieved 11 % compared to last year’s 6 %.
Companies expect first and foremost flexibility and adaptability from their
CEOs, followed by productive management abilities, with moral values in
third place. Last year, productive management was most important. The
least important factor, as for last year, is mobility.
5 6
32 %
60 %
14 %
12 %
12 %
11 %
34 %
56 %
44 %
54 %
23 %
62 %Challenge, personal growth Flexibility, adaptability
Very Important – Less Important – Not Important
Level of managerial responsibility Change management experience
Level of autonomy, independence Strong values
Good working relationship with the boss Multicultural experience
Job security Mobility
Advancement opportunities
Stress level
Compensation & benefits package Creativity management ability
Future perspective Natural autority
Worklife balance Stress resistance
Industry segment Crisis management skills
Cultural fit Productivity management ability
6. 06
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT EASY TO KEEP YOUR KEY EMPLOYEES
WITHIN THE COMPANY?
TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT EASY TO FIND HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES
FOR KEY POSITIONS ON THE JOBS MARKET?
Similarly to last year, it is easiest to keep employees from top manage-
ment, while it is hardest to keep specialists.
The situation remains complicated, as it was last year, in finding key spe-
cialists and candidates for top management.
7 8
Top Management Others
Very Easy – Easy – Difficult – Very Difficult Very Easy – Easy – Difficult – Very Difficult
Key Specialists Key Specialists
Middle Management Top Management
Others Middle Management
PLEASE TELL US IF YOU ALSO LOOK FOR CANDIDATES FROM
OUTSIDE THE CZECH REPUBLIC
ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE HOME FOR AN INTERESTING
JOB OPPORTUNITY?
64 % of companies look for candidates only from within the Czech Re-
public. Half also look in the CEE region, and a quarter of companies also
look in Western Europe. Almost 20 % are ready to look for employees
from practically anywhere.
When making a comparison with the 2012 survey, the trend for most
CEOs being willing to move for positions in Western Europe or North
America was confirmed. The survey also suggests they would prefer to
move within the Czech Republic than to move to a country in Eastern
Europe or Latin America.
9 10
Only in CZ
Western Europe
Yes – No
Yes – No
64 %
81 %
64 %
56 %
47 %
46 %
30 %
27 %
51 %
25 %
18 %
36 %
19 %
36 %
44 %
53 %
54 %
70 %
73 %
49 %
75 %
82 %Anywhere
Eastern Europe
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East & Africa
In CZ + WE region
North America
In CZ + CEE region
Within the Czech Republic
7. 07
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CONSULTING SERVICES DO YOU
CONSIDER MOST IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMPANY?
IF YOU USE DIRECT SEARCH SERVICES, WHAT ARE YOUR
MAIN REASONS FOR DOING SO?
In the turbulent environment of the Czech Republic, an attitude of some dis-
trust remains towards external consulting services. This fact is clear from
the answers of our respondents, with 74 % using standard legal services.
A positive trend is the fact that 39 % of those questioned consider Execu-
tive Search and senior management coaching as the second most important
service. Other external services offered are used by a markedly smaller
percentage of respondents.
Respondents say the greatest motivator for using Executive Search services
is the discretion of these services (almost 40 %), followed by its successful
use for top management posts (40 %). A number of directors use Executive
Search as a valuable source for gaining information from the market (21 %),
and last but not least they use it to recruit a wide range of candidates.
25 % of the respondents do not use Executive Search services.
11 12
38 % 40 %
15 %
15 %
8 %
38 % 31 %
16 %
21 %
9 %
18 %
25 %
74 % 40 %Legal consultancy Confidential Searches
Board advisory
We don’t use executive search firms
Coaching for senior managers Wide Range of Candidates
Advisory for strategy development
of human capital
Seeking Market Inteligence
Crossborder SearchesManagemet level assessment
Limited Timeline
Leadership Consulting
External recruitment of senior
managers (executive search)
Board Level Hire
8. 08
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
PLEASE STATE IN WHICH MARKET SEGMENT
YOU CURRENTLY WORK
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE POSITION OF CEO?
A total of two thirds of respondents have been in the CEO position for more
than five years, which represents a growth of almost 10 % in comparison
to 2011. The survey suggests that company shareholders are endeavouring
to have experienced CEOs in charge who have demonstrated their success
even in difficult economic circumstances. The participation of experienced
CEOs indicates their interest in finding out how their colleagues or competi-
tors see the current and future situation.
13 14
26 %
5 %
4 %
20 %
10 %
4 %
2 %
10 %
38 %Industrial
Financial Services
Consumer Products
& Services including media
Logistics & Transportation
Life Sciences & Healthcare
Government, Education
& Non Profit Organisations
Professional Services
Natural Resources and Energy
Technology
3–5 years
1–2 years
Less than 1 year
3 %
Over 5 years
20 %
14 %
63 %
A broad range of sectors have participated in this survey, and the sectors
best represented were the industrial production, information technology
and telecommunication.
9. 09
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
AGE OF RESPONDENTS GENDER OF RESPONDENTS
The survey shows that despite the trend in recent years to strive to move
women into CEO positions, we still find that more than 90 % of companies
are led by men.
15 16
50–59
60–69 Female
Below 30
< 1 %
Male
30–39
40–49
27 %
8 %
8 %
92 %45 %
19 %
10. 10
Stanton Chase International
CEO Survey 2013
Stanton Chase International was founded in 1990 and today is one of the world’s largest executive search company with over 70 offices in 43 countries.
Stanton Chase International has 9 specialized practice groups:
• Consumer Products and Services
• Financial Services
• Government, Education and Non Profit
• Industrial
• Life Sciences and Healthcare
• Logistics and Transportation
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Professional Services
• Technology
The Stanton Chase Prague office was established in 2009. It concentrates primarily on selecting top performers in the areas of technology, finance,
industry, consumer products, logistics and life sciences. The essence of our firm’s success is based on three critical factors – our clients, our search
process and our team.
Stanton Chase International
Vinohradská 1597/174
130 00 Praha 3
Tel: +420 222 990 210
www.stantonchase.com
www.stantonchase.cz
Jozef Papp
Business Excellence - Marketing & Communications
Managing Partner Prague
j.papp@stantonchase.com
+420 602 276 224
